hip-117088

Its story

In Tucana, a southern constellation imagined in the 17th century by Dutch navigators, shines this orange K-type star, evolved and cooler than the Sun. Its light set out 728 years ago, around 1296, when Marco Polo was returning to Venice after decades of travel to the Mongol court. Its amber tint tempers the southern sky with a serene warmth, a reminder that many of the most restful lights belong to stars that have already traveled much of their lifespan.