Star · A0III
ξ² CMa
ξ² CMa is a giant star of spectral type A0III in the constellation Canis Major, 406.0 light-years from the Sun.
| Other names | HIP 31416 |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Canis Major |
| Distance | 406.0 light-years (124.5 pc) |
| Apparent magnitude | magnitude 4.54 |
| Absolute magnitude | magnitude −0.94 |
| Spectral type | A0III |
| Surface temperature | 10,580 K |
| Luminosity | 306 L☉ |
| Radius | 5.2 R☉ |
| Mass | 4.66 M☉ (estimated) |
| Right ascension (J2000) | 6h 35m 03.4s |
| Declination (J2000) | −22° 57′ 53″ |
| Space velocity (relative to the Sun) | 26.1 km/s |
In the sky
Visible to the naked eye under a dark sky (apparent magnitude 4.54). Visible from the whole Southern Hemisphere and north to latitude 67° N. South of latitude 67° S it never sets. It stands highest at midnight in December, the best time to observe it.
Through a telescope from Earth
Light's journey
The light you see tonight set out around the year 1620. At the speed of Voyager 1, the fastest craft leaving the Solar System (16.9 km per second), the trip would take 7.2 million years.
The Sun seen from there
From a planet around ξ² CMa, the Sun would look like a star of magnitude 10.31, in the direction where our sky has the constellation Hercules. It would be invisible to the naked eye.
Position, brightness and colour from the HYG / AT-HYG catalogue; temperature, luminosity, radius and mass are approximate values computed from these observations.
