Star profile
Gamma Virginis
Binary systemWhat is Gamma Virginis
Gamma Virginis, also called Porrima after the Roman goddess of prophecy, is one of the most famous binary systems in the northern sky. At 38.6 light-years, two near-twin yellow-white suns orbit each other in a dance lasting just over a century and a half. To nineteenth-century astronomers it became the decisive proof that double stars obey the same gravitational laws that govern the planets around the Sun.
Where it is and when to see it
Gamma Virginis lies in the southern celestial hemisphere. It is visible to the naked eye under a dark sky. Its best month of the year is March, when it culminates around midnight.
- From London it culminates about 37° above the horizon.
- From New York it culminates about 48° above the horizon.
- From Sydney it culminates about 58° above the horizon.
It can be seen from anywhere south of 89° N.
It ranks no. 6 in brightness among the 99 stars of Virgo in our catalogue. To find it, start from Spica, the brightest: it lies about 15° away (a fist at arm's length covers about 10°).
The light you see today left it about 39 years ago.
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Astronomical data for Gamma Virginis
- Constellation
- Virgo
- Apparent magnitude
- 3.52
- Distance
- 38.6 light years
- Coordinates (J2000)
- RA 190.413° · Dec -1.449°
- Catalogue
- HYG 118838 · HD 110380
A symbolic commemorative gift: neither the signature nor the chosen name implies ownership of the star or recognition by the IAU.
Other stars in Virgo
Virgo has 99 stars in Stelvia's catalogue. Here are a few of them.
- SpicaAlpha Virginis0.98
- PorrimaGamma Virginis2.74
- VindemiatrixEpsilon Virginis2.85
- HezeZeta Virginis3.38
- MinelauvaDelta Virginis3.39
- ZavijavaBeta Virginis3.59
- 109 Virginis3.73
- Mu Virginis3.87