Star profile

Iota Geminorum

3D likeness based on its real data · class G · ~5,500 K

What is Iota Geminorum

Iota Geminorum, 60 Geminorum, is a yellow giant just under a billion years old, only 120 light-years away. Its surface at 4,725 K casts a warmer yellow than the Sun and marks the moment when stars leave hydrogen burning and start to swell. It traces a quiet waypoint between the two classical brothers, Castor and Pollux, in the figure of the Twins.

Where it is and when to see it

Iota 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 66° above the horizon.
From New York it culminates about 77° above the horizon.
From Sydney it culminates about 28° above the horizon.

It can be seen from anywhere north of 62° S.

It ranks no. 13 in brightness among the 74 stars of Gemini in our catalogue. To find it, start from Pollux, the brightest: it lies about 4° away (a fist at arm's length covers about 10°).

The light you see today left it about 120 years ago.

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Astronomical data for Iota Geminorum

Constellation: Gemini
Apparent magnitude: 3.78
Distance: 120.4 light years
Coordinates (J2000): RA 111.432° · Dec 27.798°
Catalogue: HIP 36046 · HD 58207

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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