Spica
Also known as α Vir · HR 5056
Spica is a beta cep variable star in the constellation Virgo, about 300 light-years from Earth.
Facts
| Type | Beta cep variable star (spectral type B1V) |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Virgo |
| Position (J2000) | 13h 25m 11s, −11° 09′ |
| Distance | 300 light-years (its light set off about 300 years ago) |
| Brightness | magnitude 0.97 (smaller is brighter; the faintest stars the eye sees are about 6) |
| Studied in | 879 scientific papers (SIMBAD) |
When and how to see it
Spica is highest in the sky at midnight in April. From India (about 20° N) it climbs to about 59° above the horizon; from 50° N, to about 29°. 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 Virgo
- 3C 279
- M49 (NGC 4472)
- M58 (NGC 4579)
- M59 (NGC 4621)
- M60 (NGC 4649)
- M61 (NGC 4303)
- M84 (NGC 4374)
- M87* (Messier 87)
Everything in Virgo · All 88 constellations · All sky objects
Data: SIMBAD (CDS, Strasbourg; the site's weekly copy) · Data sources & credits