Star profile

Psi 1 Aurigae

Variable star

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

What is Psi 1 Aurigae

Psi-1 Aurigae is a rare orange K-type supergiant in the Charioteer, one of the largest and most luminous embers visible to the naked eye within that winter constellation. Its brightness drifts slowly, betraying the deep labour of a vast atmosphere that has already burned through almost all of its nuclear fuel. Precise measurements of its distance are notoriously hard —so great is its true luminosity—, but catalogues place it among the most far-flung supergiants the human eye can still pick out in the northern night.

Where it is and when to see it

Psi 1 Aurigae 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 never sets and culminates about 88° up.
From New York it culminates about 81° above the horizon.
From Sydney it culminates about 7° above the horizon.

It can be seen from anywhere north of 41° S.

It ranks no. 22 in brightness among the 76 stars of Auriga in our catalogue. To find it, start from Capella, the brightest: it lies about 12° away (a fist at arm's length covers about 10°).

The light you see today left it about 330,000 years ago.

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Astronomical data for Psi 1 Aurigae

Constellation: Auriga
Apparent magnitude: 4.92
Distance: 326200.0 light years
Coordinates (J2000): RA 96.225° · Dec 49.288°
Catalogue: HIP 30520 · HD 44537

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Other stars in Auriga

Auriga has 76 stars in Stelvia's catalogue. Here are a few of them.

See all 76 stars in Auriga