Star profile

Zeta Volans

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

What is Zeta Volans

ζ Volantis is an orange giant in one of the most peculiar constellations of the sky: the Flying Fish, charted by Dutch navigator Pieter Keyser at the end of the 16th century during his voyage to the East Indies. Its warm K-type light speaks of a mature star, swollen and transitioning toward its nuclear old age, glowing far south of the celestial equator.

Where it is and when to see it

Zeta Volans lies in the southern celestial hemisphere. It is visible to the naked eye under a dark sky. Its best month of the year is May, when it culminates around midnight.

From London it never rises above the horizon.
From New York it never rises above the horizon.
From Sydney it never sets and culminates about 51° up.

It can be seen from anywhere south of 17° N.

It ranks no. 3 in brightness among the 19 stars of Volans in our catalogue. To find it, start from Beta Volans, the brightest: it lies about 8° away (a fist at arm's length covers about 10°).

The light you see today left it about 140 years ago.

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Astronomical data for Zeta Volans

Constellation: Volans
Apparent magnitude: 3.93
Distance: 141.0 light years
Coordinates (J2000): RA 115.455° · Dec -72.606°
Catalogue: HIP 37504 · HD 63295

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Other stars in Volans

Volans has 19 stars in Stelvia's catalogue. Here are a few of them.

See all 19 stars in Volans