Star profile

HIP 21685

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

What is HIP 21685

An orange star in Eridanus, the celestial river meandering across the southern sky. Its light set out 196 years ago, when steam ships were making their first transatlantic crossings and photography was taking its initial steps in Paris. A K-class object, cooler and more restful than the Sun, it shines with the amber hue characteristic of mature stars that have long since abandoned youthful haste.

Where it is and when to see it

HIP 21685 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 24° above the horizon.
From New York it culminates about 35° above the horizon.
From Sydney it culminates about 70° above the horizon.

It can be seen from anywhere south of 76° N.

It ranks no. 72 in brightness among the 129 stars of Eridanus in our catalogue. To find it, start from Achernar, the brightest: it lies about 55° away (a fist at arm's length covers about 10°).

The light you see today left it about 200 years ago.

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Astronomical data for HIP 21685

Constellation: Eridanus
Apparent magnitude: 5.46
Distance: 196.2 light years
Coordinates (J2000): RA 69.832° · Dec -14.359°
Catalogue: HIP 21685 · HD 29613

A symbolic commemorative gift: neither the signature nor the chosen name implies ownership of the star or recognition by the IAU.

Other stars in Eridanus

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

See all 129 stars in Eridanus