hip-37379

Its story

In Puppis, the stern of the ancient ship Argo, sails this orange K-type giant —cool and serene compared with its spectral neighbours. Its mellow light has travelled 695 years, so it set out when Luther was nailing his theses in Wittenberg in 1517. Larger than the Sun and gentler at the surface, it keeps the coppery flush of stars that have already lived much of their lives.