Star profile
Sigma Puppis
Variable starWhat is Sigma Puppis
σ Puppis is an orange giant that pulses slowly, varying its brightness in long cycles like a stellar breath. It belongs to the ancient stern of the ship Argo, divided in the 18th century into three constellations: Carina, Vela and Puppis. Its warm K-type light suggests a star well into its later life, swollen and golden in the southern latitudes of the sky.
Where it is and when to see it
Sigma Puppis lies in the southern 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 never rises above the horizon.
- From New York it culminates about 6° above the horizon.
- From Sydney it culminates about 81° above the horizon.
It can be seen from anywhere south of 47° N.
It ranks no. 6 in brightness among the 145 stars of Puppis in our catalogue. To find it, start from Naos, the brightest: it lies about 7° away (a fist at arm's length covers about 10°).
The light you see today left it about 190 years ago.
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Astronomical data for Sigma Puppis
- Constellation
- Puppis
- Apparent magnitude
- 3.25
- Distance
- 193.7 light years
- Coordinates (J2000)
- RA 112.308° · Dec -43.301°
- Catalogue
- HIP 36377 · HD 59717
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Other stars in Puppis
Puppis has 145 stars in Stelvia's catalogue. Here are a few of them.
- NaosZeta Puppis2.21
- Pi Puppis2.71
- TureisRho Puppis2.83
- Tau Puppis2.94
- Nu Puppis3.17
- AzmidiXi Puppis3.34
- HIP 378193.62
- HIP 384143.71