Star profile

Xi Columbae

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

What is Xi Columbae

Xi Columbae shines within the small constellation of the Dove, drawn by Petrus Plancius in the sixteenth century from the stars that slipped past the older outlines of Argo Navis. At some 333 light-years, it is an orange K-type giant, an aged sun that has swollen its layers to several times solar size and bathes its surroundings in a warm, ancient light.

Where it is and when to see it

Xi 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 1° above the horizon.
From New York it culminates about 12° above the horizon.
From Sydney it culminates about 87° above the horizon.

It can be seen from anywhere south of 53° N.

It ranks no. 10 in brightness among the 45 stars of Columba in our catalogue. To find it, start from Phact, the brightest: it lies about 4° away (a fist at arm's length covers about 10°).

The light you see today left it about 330 years ago.

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Astronomical data for Xi Columbae

Constellation: Columba
Apparent magnitude: 4.97
Distance: 332.9 light years
Coordinates (J2000): RA 88.875° · Dec -37.121°
Catalogue: HIP 28010 · HD 40176

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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