Star · K5III
τ² Aqr
τ² Aqr is a giant star of spectral type K5III in the constellation Aquarius, 325.6 light-years from the Sun.
| Other names | HIP 112716 |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Aquarius |
| Distance | 325.6 light-years (99.8 pc) |
| Apparent magnitude | magnitude 4.05 |
| Absolute magnitude | magnitude −0.95 |
| Spectral type | K5III |
| Surface temperature | 3,690 K |
| Luminosity | 868 L☉ |
| Radius | 72 R☉ |
| Mass | 6.28 M☉ (estimated) |
| Right ascension (J2000) | 22h 49m 35.5s |
| Declination (J2000) | −13° 35′ 34″ |
| Space velocity (relative to the Sun) | 19.4 km/s |
In the sky
Visible to the naked eye under a dark sky (apparent magnitude 4.05). Visible from the whole Southern Hemisphere and north to latitude 76° N. South of latitude 76° S it never sets. It stands highest at midnight in August, the best time to observe it.
Through a telescope from Earth
Light's journey
The light you see tonight set out around the year 1700. At the speed of Voyager 1, the fastest craft leaving the Solar System (16.9 km per second), the trip would take 5.8 million years.
The Sun seen from there
From a planet around τ² Aqr, the Sun would look like a star of magnitude 9.83, in the direction where our sky has the constellation Leo. It would be invisible to the naked eye.
Neighbours
Its nearest neighbours in the catalogue (within 20 light-years):
- HIP 112920 11.8 light-years
- HIP 111913 17.9 light-years
- HIP 112782 18.6 light-years
- HIP 112327 18.9 light-years
Position, brightness and colour from the HYG / AT-HYG catalogue; temperature, luminosity, radius and mass are approximate values computed from these observations.