Star profile

Alhena

Gamma Geminorum · Gemini

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

What is Alhena

Alhena marks the foot of Pollux, one of the celestial twins, and its Arabic name refers precisely to that brand or scar on the hunter's body. A white A-type star some 109 light years away, its serene flash sweeps across Gemini each northern winter. The light seen tonight left the star not long before the American Revolution.

Where it is and when to see it

Alhena 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 55° above the horizon.
From New York it culminates about 66° above the horizon.
From Sydney it culminates about 40° above the horizon.

It can be seen from anywhere north of 74° S.

It ranks no. 3 in brightness among the 74 stars of Gemini in our catalogue. To find it, start from Pollux, the brightest: it lies about 19° 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 Alhena

Constellation: Gemini
Apparent magnitude: 1.93
Distance: 109.3 light years
Coordinates (J2000): RA 99.428° · Dec 16.399°
Catalogue: HIP 31681 · HD 47105

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

Other stars in Gemini

Gemini has 74 stars in Stelvia's catalogue. Here are a few of them.

See all 74 stars in Gemini