Situla

Its story

Situla carries a Latin name meaning «the bucket», a reference to the vessel from which Aquarius pours his celestial stream. An orange K-class giant, cool and swollen, it lies about 214 light-years away. Its modest brightness to the naked eye is deceptive: this is a huge star that has entered the late stages of its evolution, spilling a warm light that was already on the move when Beethoven was composing his final sonatas.