Meissa
Also known as λ Ori · HR 1879
Meissa is an emission-line star in the constellation Orion, about 1,260 light-years from Earth.
Facts
| Type | Emission-line star (spectral type O8III((f))) |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Orion |
| Position (J2000) | 5h 35m 08s, +9° 56′ |
| Distance | 1,260 light-years (its light set off about 1,260 years ago) |
| Brightness | magnitude 3.47 (smaller is brighter; the faintest stars the eye sees are about 6) |
| Studied in | 530 scientific papers (SIMBAD) |
When and how to see it
Meissa is highest in the sky at midnight in December. From India (about 20° N) it climbs to about 80° above the horizon; from 50° N, to about 50°. 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 Orion
- Barnard's Loop
- De Mairan's Nebula (M43)
- Flame Nebula
- Horsehead Nebula
- M78 (NGC 2068)
- Monkey Head Nebula
- Orion Nebula (M42)
- TXS 0506+056
Everything in Orion · All 88 constellations · All sky objects
Data: SIMBAD (CDS, Strasbourg; the site's weekly copy) · Data sources & credits