Star profile

Alula Australis

Xi Ursae Majoris · Ursa Major

Nearby star

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

What is Alula Australis

Alula Australis lies just 34 light-years away, in one of the hind paws of Ursa Major, almost on the threshold of the Solar System itself. Its name comes from a curious blend of the Arabic «al-`ula», the first leap of the gazelles that populated its celestial bestiary, and the Latin «australis», the southern one, to distinguish it from its northern companion in the same constellation. A neighbouring star, yellow much like our Sun, close enough to be a recurring candidate in studies of potentially habitable planets around stars other than our own.

Where it is and when to see it

Alula Australis 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. 21 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

Constellation: Ursa Major
Apparent magnitude: 4.33
Distance: 34.0 light years
Coordinates (J2000): RA 169.547° · Dec 31.529°
Catalogue: HYG 118742 · HD 98231

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