Star profile

Phi Grus

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

What is Phi Grus

In the Crane — that southern bird introduced by Dutch navigators returning from the East Indies — this F-type yellow-white star shines from 116 light-years away. It runs hotter than the Sun and, at this relatively close range, is one of the most easily measured stars in the constellation. Its light carries the cool tinge that separates, on a truly dark night, the young incandescents from the swollen reddened giants.

Where it is and when to see it

Phi Grus 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 never rises above the horizon.
From New York it culminates about 8° above the horizon.
From Sydney it culminates about 83° above the horizon.

It can be seen from anywhere south of 49° N.

It ranks no. 24 in brightness among the 39 stars of Grus in our catalogue. To find it, start from Alnair, the brightest: it lies about 14° away (a fist at arm's length covers about 10°).

The light you see today left it about 120 years ago.

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Astronomical data for Phi Grus

Constellation: Grus
Apparent magnitude: 5.54
Distance: 115.5 light years
Coordinates (J2000): RA 349.541° · Dec -40.824°
Catalogue: HIP 115054 · HD 219693

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Other stars in Grus

Grus has 39 stars in Stelvia's catalogue. Here are a few of them.

See all 39 stars in Grus