Star profile

Rotanev

Beta Delphinus · Delphinus

3D likeness based on its real data · class F · ~6,500 K

What is Rotanev

Rotanev hides a small astronomical joke: read backwards, the name spells 'Venator', the Latinised surname of the Italian astronomer Niccolò Cacciatore, who quietly christened it in 1814 without anyone in his time noticing the trick. It shines in Delphinus, one of the tiniest and most ancient constellations in the sky, as a yellow-white F-type light at 101 light-years away. Its glow has crossed space throughout the entire twentieth century to reach this very night.

Where it is and when to see it

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

From London it culminates about 53° above the horizon.
From New York it culminates about 64° above the horizon.
From Sydney it culminates about 42° above the horizon.

It can be seen from anywhere north of 75° S.

It is the brightest of the 18 stars of Delphinus in our catalogue, which makes it the best starting point for finding your way around the constellation.

The light you see today left it about 100 years ago.

Find it on the sky map

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Leave your signature on Rotanev

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A public signature from a real person. The chosen name is a symbolic denomination within Stelvia, with no official standing or IAU recognition: the sky is not for sale and belongs to no one.

Astronomical data for Rotanev

Constellation: Delphinus
Apparent magnitude: 3.64
Distance: 100.9 light years
Coordinates (J2000): RA 309.387° · Dec 14.595°
Catalogue: HIP 101769 · HD 196524

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

Other stars in Delphinus

Delphinus has 18 stars in Stelvia's catalogue. Here are a few of them.

See all 18 stars in Delphinus