Van Maanen's Star
Also known as van Maanen 2
Van Maanen's Star is a white dwarf in the constellation Pisces, about 14 light-years from Earth.
Nearest solitary white dwarf
Facts
| Type | White dwarf (spectral type DZ7.5) |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Pisces |
| Position (J2000) | 0h 49m 09s, +5° 23′ |
| Distance | 14 light-years (its light set off about 14 years ago) |
| Brightness | magnitude 12.37 (smaller is brighter; the faintest stars the eye sees are about 6) |
| Studied in | 266 scientific papers (SIMBAD) |
When and how to see it
Van Maanen's Star is highest in the sky at midnight in October. From India (about 20° N) it climbs to about 75° above the horizon; from 50° N, to about 45°. To see it you need a large telescope or long-exposure photos.
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 Pisces
Everything in Pisces · All 88 constellations · All sky objects
Data: SIMBAD (CDS, Strasbourg; the site's weekly copy) · Data sources & credits