Star profile
Iota Aquarii
Hot blue starWhat is Iota Aquarii
Iota Aquarii is a hot blue B-type star 175 light-years away, set in the stream of water that the Bearer pours toward the southern Fish. Its surface, near 13,000 degrees, gives off a clean blue-white light that holds its own even under moonlit skies. It traces part of the quiet but ancient figure the Babylonians recognised as a god pouring life over the Earth; the light arriving tonight set out when Europe was raising its first Gothic cathedrals.
Where it is and when to see it
Iota Aquarii lies in the southern 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 25° above the horizon.
- From New York it culminates about 35° above the horizon.
- From Sydney it culminates about 70° above the horizon.
It can be seen from anywhere south of 76° N.
It ranks no. 15 in brightness among the 99 stars of Aquarius in our catalogue. To find it, start from Sadalsuud, the brightest: it lies about 12° away (a fist at arm's length covers about 10°).
The light you see today left it about 180 years ago.
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Astronomical data for Iota Aquarii
- Constellation
- Aquarius
- Apparent magnitude
- 4.29
- Distance
- 175.2 light years
- Coordinates (J2000)
- RA 331.609° · Dec -13.870°
- Catalogue
- HIP 109139 · HD 209819
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Other stars in Aquarius
Aquarius has 99 stars in Stelvia's catalogue. Here are a few of them.
- SadalsuudBeta Aquarii2.90
- SadalmelikAlpha Aquarii2.95
- SkatDelta Aquarii3.27
- AnchaTheta Aquarii4.17
- Phi Aquarii4.22
- Psi 1 Aquarii4.24
- 99 Aquarii4.38
- Psi 2 Aquarii4.41