Star profile

Tau Geminorum

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

What is Tau Geminorum

Tau Geminorum is an orange K giant 321 light-years away, set apart by something uncommon: she has a confirmed planet. Tau Geminorum b, announced in 2013, is a gas giant of about twenty Jupiter masses circling her once every 305 days. She is one of those systems that remind us almost every visible star hides a court of invisible worlds, silent, indifferent to whoever watches them.

Where it is and when to see it

Tau Geminorum lies in the northern celestial hemisphere. It is visible to the naked eye under a dark sky. Its best month of the year is January, when it culminates around midnight.

From London it culminates about 69° above the horizon.
From New York it culminates about 80° above the horizon.
From Sydney it culminates about 26° above the horizon.

It can be seen from anywhere north of 60° S.

It ranks no. 20 in brightness among the 74 stars of Gemini in our catalogue. To find it, start from Pollux, the brightest: it lies about 8° away (a fist at arm's length covers about 10°).

The light you see today left it about 320 years ago.

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Astronomical data for Tau Geminorum

Constellation: Gemini
Apparent magnitude: 4.41
Distance: 321.1 light years
Coordinates (J2000): RA 107.785° · Dec 30.245°
Catalogue: HIP 34693 · HD 54719

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Other stars in Gemini

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

See all 74 stars in Gemini