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Alphecca

Also known as α CrB · HR 5793

Alphecca is a spectroscopic binary star in the constellation Corona Borealis, about 77 light-years from Earth.

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

Facts

TypeSpectroscopic binary star (spectral type A1IV)
ConstellationCorona Borealis
Position (J2000)15h 34m 41s, +26° 42′
Distance77 light-years (its light set off about 77 years ago)
Brightnessmagnitude 2.24 (smaller is brighter; the faintest stars the eye sees are about 6)
Studied in504 scientific papers (SIMBAD)

When and how to see it

Alphecca is highest in the sky at midnight in May. From India (about 20° N) it climbs to about 83° above the horizon; from 50° N, to about 67°. 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.

Everything in Corona Borealis · All 88 constellations · All sky objects

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