Star profile

Alula Australis B

Xi Ursae Majoris · Ursa Major

Binary system

3D likeness based on its real data · class G · ~5,500 K

What is Alula Australis B

Alula Australis B is part of a binary system observed by William Herschel in 1780 and was the first true binary whose orbit around its common centre of mass could actually be calculated by astronomers. This component, a yellow G-type star, lies just 34 light-years from here — a near neighbour, dancing silently with its twin every sixty years beneath the foot of the Great Bear.

Where it is and when to see it

Alula Australis B lies in the northern celestial hemisphere. It is visible to the naked eye under a dark sky. Its best month of the year is February, when it culminates around midnight.

From London it culminates about 70° above the horizon.
From New York it culminates about 81° above the horizon.
From Sydney it culminates about 25° above the horizon.

It can be seen from anywhere north of 58° S.

It ranks no. 35 in brightness among the 124 stars of Ursa Major in our catalogue. To find it, start from Alioth, the brightest: it lies about 30° away (a fist at arm's length covers about 10°).

The light you see today left it about 34 years ago.

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Astronomical data for Alula Australis B

Constellation: Ursa Major
Apparent magnitude: 4.80
Distance: 34.0 light years
Coordinates (J2000): RA 169.547° · Dec 31.529°
Catalogue: HYG 118743 · HD 98230

A symbolic commemorative gift: neither the signature nor the chosen name implies ownership of the star or recognition by the IAU.

Other stars in Ursa Major

Ursa Major has 124 stars in Stelvia's catalogue. Here are a few of them.

See all 124 stars in Ursa Major