Alkaid

Also known as η UMa · HR 5191

Alkaid is a high proper motion star in the constellation Ursa Major, about 100 light-years from Earth.

Open it on the live sky map Plan Night Exploration

Alkaid: a sky-survey photograph of its field — Sky survey view (DSS2 colour, or a backup survey)

Facts

Type	High proper motion star (spectral type B3V)
Constellation	Ursa Major
Position (J2000)	13h 47m 32s, +49° 18′
Distance	100 light-years (its light set off about 100 years ago)
Brightness	magnitude 1.86 (smaller is brighter; the faintest stars the eye sees are about 6)
Studied in	633 scientific papers (SIMBAD)

When and how to see it

Alkaid is highest in the sky at midnight in April. From India (about 20° N) it climbs to about 61° above the horizon; from 50° N, to about 89°. To see it you need the naked eye, even from a town.

Heights are worked out for India and for 50° N. Set your location in Settings to see them for where you are.

For tonight's best time from your own town, the darkness and the Moon, open it on the map and see its "Tonight from your location" card.

More in Ursa Major

Everything in Ursa Major · All 88 constellations · All sky objects

Data: SIMBAD (CDS, Strasbourg; the site's weekly copy) · Data sources & credits