Star profile

Rho 2 Eridani

3D likeness based on its real data · class K · ~4,200 K

What is Rho 2 Eridani

Rho-2 Eridani is an orange giant of type K burning some 265 light-years away, along the celestial river Eridanus, the longest and most winding in the sky, snaking from Orion's feet down to the southern latitudes. Its muted, golden glow comes from a surface near four thousand degrees and a radius far larger than the Sun's: a star well into its years, master of a warm, patient light.

Where it is and when to see it

Rho 2 Eridani lies in the southern celestial hemisphere. It is visible to the naked eye under a dark sky. Its best month of the year is November, when it culminates around midnight.

From London it culminates about 31° above the horizon.
From New York it culminates about 42° above the horizon.
From Sydney it culminates about 64° above the horizon.

It can be seen from anywhere south of 82° N.

It ranks no. 65 in brightness among the 129 stars of Eridanus in our catalogue. To find it, start from Achernar, the brightest: it lies about 52° away (a fist at arm's length covers about 10°).

The light you see today left it about 260 years ago.

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Astronomical data for Rho 2 Eridani

Constellation: Eridanus
Apparent magnitude: 5.32
Distance: 264.8 light years
Coordinates (J2000): RA 45.676° · Dec -7.685°
Catalogue: HIP 14168 · HD 18953

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Other stars in Eridanus

Eridanus has 129 stars in Stelvia's catalogue. Here are a few of them.

See all 129 stars in Eridanus