Star profile

Omicron Columbae

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

What is Omicron Columbae

Omicron Columbae accompanies the modest flight of the Dove, the constellation that Petrus Plancius drew at the end of the sixteenth century over the patch of sky where tradition placed the bird of the Flood. An orange type K giant some 106 light-years away, it is among the relatively close neighbours of the solar system within its figure. Its tepid light evokes the fate of every Sun-like star which, long after youth, begins to swell and tint itself orange.

Where it is and when to see it

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

From London it culminates about 4° above the horizon.
From New York it culminates about 14° above the horizon.
From Sydney it culminates about 89° above the horizon.

It can be seen from anywhere south of 55° N.

It ranks no. 8 in brightness among the 45 stars of Columba in our catalogue. To find it, start from Phact, the brightest: it lies about 5° away (a fist at arm's length covers about 10°).

The light you see today left it about 110 years ago.

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Astronomical data for Omicron Columbae

Constellation: Columba
Apparent magnitude: 4.81
Distance: 105.8 light years
Coordinates (J2000): RA 79.371° · Dec -34.895°
Catalogue: HIP 24659 · HD 34642

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Other stars in Columba

Columba has 45 stars in Stelvia's catalogue. Here are a few of them.

See all 45 stars in Columba