Star profile

Tau 2 Arietis

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

What is Tau 2 Arietis

Tau-2 Arietis belongs to the uneven flock of the Ram, the zodiacal symbol that traditionally opens spring in the northern hemisphere. At 318 light-years, it is an orange K-type giant in its advanced evolutionary phase. Its warm light slips between the few bright stars of Aries, a small but ancient constellation tied to the golden fleece and to the earliest celestial charts of Mesopotamia.

Where it is and when to see it

Tau 2 Arietis lies in the northern 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 59° above the horizon.
From New York it culminates about 70° above the horizon.
From Sydney it culminates about 35° above the horizon.

It can be seen from anywhere north of 69° S.

It ranks no. 15 in brightness among the 57 stars of Aries in our catalogue. To find it, start from Hamal, the brightest: it lies about 18° away (a fist at arm's length covers about 10°).

The light you see today left it about 320 years ago.

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Astronomical data for Tau 2 Arietis

Constellation: Aries
Apparent magnitude: 5.10
Distance: 317.6 light years
Coordinates (J2000): RA 50.689° · Dec 20.742°
Catalogue: HIP 15737 · HD 20893

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Other stars in Aries

Aries has 57 stars in Stelvia's catalogue. Here are a few of them.

See all 57 stars in Aries