Star profile

Mu Orionis

3D likeness based on its real data · class A · ~8,500 K

What is Mu Orionis

Mu Orionis shines quietly on the eastern flank of the Hunter, 155 light-years away, far from the splendour of Betelgeuse and Rigel. It is a white A-type star, young and hot, completing the outline of Orion's raised arm toward the winter Milky Way. Without the fanfare of its more famous siblings, it has held its place in the mythological tableau long before Mediterranean cultures drew the first star charts with ink and compass on parchment.

Where it is and when to see it

Mu 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 48° above the horizon.
From New York it culminates about 59° above the horizon.
From Sydney it culminates about 46° above the horizon.

It can be seen from anywhere north of 80° S.

It ranks no. 18 in brightness among the 128 stars of Orion in our catalogue. To find it, start from Rigel, the brightest: it lies about 21° away (a fist at arm's length covers about 10°).

The light you see today left it about 160 years ago.

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Astronomical data for Mu Orionis

Constellation: Orion
Apparent magnitude: 4.12
Distance: 155.0 light years
Coordinates (J2000): RA 90.596° · Dec 9.647°
Catalogue: HIP 28614 · HD 40932

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

Other stars in Orion

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

See all 128 stars in Orion