Star profile
Nu Eridani
Variable starWhat is Nu Eridani
It is the best-known star of its entire class: a hot blue point in the river Eridanus whose internal oscillations have been deciphered more thoroughly than those of any other Beta Cephei variable. It pulses on at least fourteen distinct frequencies — a seismic orchestra that astronomers have tracked in multi-site campaigns to reconstruct its nuclear core. The light reaching us now set out around the 14th century, and arrives after 675 years across the void of a neighbouring galactic arm.
Where it is and when to see it
Nu 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 35° above the horizon.
- From New York it culminates about 46° above the horizon.
- From Sydney it culminates about 59° above the horizon.
It can be seen from anywhere south of 87° N.
It ranks no. 14 in brightness among the 129 stars of Eridanus in our catalogue. To find it, start from Achernar, the brightest: it lies about 64° away (a fist at arm's length covers about 10°).
The light you see today left it about 680 years ago.
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Astronomical data for Nu Eridani
- Constellation
- Eridanus
- Apparent magnitude
- 3.93
- Distance
- 675.4 light years
- Coordinates (J2000)
- RA 69.080° · Dec -3.352°
- Catalogue
- HIP 21444 · HD 29248
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Other stars in Eridanus
Eridanus has 129 stars in Stelvia's catalogue. Here are a few of them.
- AchernarAlpha Eridani0.45
- CursaBeta Eridani2.78
- AcamarTheta 1 Eridani2.88
- TheeminUpsilon 2 Eridani3.81
- Sceptrum3.86
- AzhaEta Eridani3.89
- Beemim3.97
- Mu Eridani4.01