Star profile

Rasalas

Mu Leonis · Leo

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

What is Rasalas

Rasalas is an orange giant in Leo, 124 light-years away, set near the head of the mythological cat. Its full name, from the Arabic «raʾs al-asad al-shamālī», means «the northern head of the lion», a celestial place-name as literal as it is elegant. Its warm light arrives after a century and a quarter of travel, enough time to have crossed two world wars and the invention of radio.

Where it is and when to see it

Rasalas lies in the northern 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 65° above the horizon.
From New York it culminates about 75° above the horizon.
From Sydney it culminates about 30° above the horizon.

It can be seen from anywhere north of 64° S.

It ranks no. 11 in brightness among the 80 stars of Leo in our catalogue. To find it, start from Regulus, the brightest: it lies about 15° 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 Rasalas

Constellation: Leo
Apparent magnitude: 3.88
Distance: 124.1 light years
Coordinates (J2000): RA 148.191° · Dec 26.007°
Catalogue: HIP 48455 · HD 85503

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Other stars in Leo

Leo has 80 stars in Stelvia's catalogue. Here are a few of them.

See all 80 stars in Leo