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Star · G5III

ζ Pyx

ζ Pyx is a giant star of spectral type G5III in the constellation Pyxis, 235.3 light-years from the Sun.

Other namesHIP 42483
ConstellationPyxis
Distance235.3 light-years (72.1 pc)
Apparent magnitudemagnitude 4.86
Absolute magnitudemagnitude 0.57
Spectral typeG5III
Surface temperature5,000 K
Luminosity69.8 L☉
Radius11.1 R☉
Mass3.05 M☉ (estimated)
Right ascension (J2000)8h 39m 42.5s
Declination (J2000)−29° 33′ 40″
Space velocity (relative to the Sun)43.9 km/s

In the sky

Visible to the naked eye under a dark sky (apparent magnitude 4.86). Visible from the whole Southern Hemisphere and north to latitude 60° N. South of latitude 60° S it never sets. It stands highest at midnight in January, the best time to observe it.

Through a telescope from Earth

Light's journey

The light you see tonight set out around the year 1791. At the speed of Voyager 1, the fastest craft leaving the Solar System (16.9 km per second), the trip would take 4.2 million years.

The Sun seen from there

From a planet around ζ Pyx, the Sun would look like a star of magnitude 9.12, in the direction where our sky has the constellation Cygnus. It would be invisible to the naked eye.

Neighbours

Its nearest neighbours in the catalogue (within 20 light-years):

  • HIP 43509 12.6 light-years
  • HIP 41477 13.2 light-years
  • HIP 43170 14.7 light-years
  • δ Pyx 16.5 light-years
  • HIP 42937 17.1 light-years
  • η Pyx 18.1 light-years
  • HIP 42075 18.5 light-years
  • HIP 41764 18.6 light-years

Open in the simulation

Position, brightness and colour from the HYG / AT-HYG catalogue; temperature, luminosity, radius and mass are approximate values computed from these observations.