Star profile

Chi 1 Orionis

Variable star

3D likeness based on its real data · class G · ~5,500 K

What is Chi 1 Orionis

Chi¹ Orionis is a close neighbour of the Sun —only 28.3 light-years away— set in the shield or cloak that the hunter raises over Orion. It is a yellow G-type star much like the Sun, though somewhat younger and more active, with spots, flares and a rapid rotation that make it slightly variable. Its proper motion will sweep it through the solar neighbourhood within a few million years, a reminder that stars are not fixed, only slow.

Where it is and when to see it

Chi 1 Orionis lies in the northern 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 59° above the horizon.
From New York it culminates about 70° above the horizon.
From Sydney it culminates about 36° above the horizon.

It can be seen from anywhere north of 70° S.

It ranks no. 23 in brightness among the 128 stars of Orion in our catalogue. To find it, start from Rigel, the brightest: it lies about 30° away (a fist at arm's length covers about 10°).

The light you see today left it about 28 years ago.

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Astronomical data for Chi 1 Orionis

Constellation: Orion
Apparent magnitude: 4.39
Distance: 28.3 light years
Coordinates (J2000): RA 88.596° · Dec 20.276°
Catalogue: HIP 27913 · HD 39587

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Other stars in Orion

Orion has 128 stars in Stelvia's catalogue. Here are a few of them.

See all 128 stars in Orion