Star profile

HIP 42430

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

What is HIP 42430

A close neighbour in the modest constellation of Pyxis, that little celestial compass imagined by Lacaille in the 18th century. Its yellow light, almost a twin of the Sun's, needed just 63 years to reach us: it set out at the height of the Cold War, when humans were sending their first probes beyond the asteroid belt. A quiet, familiar G-type sun, suspended just beyond our own solar neighbourhood.

Where it is and when to see it

HIP 42430 lies in the southern celestial hemisphere. It is visible to the naked eye under a dark sky. Its best month of the year is February, when it culminates around midnight.

From London it culminates about 16° above the horizon.
From New York it culminates about 27° above the horizon.
From Sydney it culminates about 79° above the horizon.

It can be seen from anywhere south of 67° N.

It ranks no. 9 in brightness among the 18 stars of Pyxis in our catalogue. To find it, start from Alpha Pyxidis, the brightest: it lies about 11° away (a fist at arm's length covers about 10°).

The light you see today left it about 63 years ago.

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Astronomical data for HIP 42430

Constellation: Pyxis
Apparent magnitude: 5.05
Distance: 63.3 light years
Coordinates (J2000): RA 129.783° · Dec -22.662°
Catalogue: HIP 42430 · HD 73752

A symbolic commemorative gift: neither the signature nor the chosen name implies ownership of the star or recognition by the IAU.

Other stars in Pyxis

Pyxis has 18 stars in Stelvia's catalogue. Here are a few of them.

See all 18 stars in Pyxis