Star profile

HIP 48559

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

What is HIP 48559

In the coiled tail of Hydra shines an orange K-class giant, far larger than the Sun, whose coppery glow crossed the void for more than three centuries. When it left that atmosphere, the first Baroque violins were being tuned in Europe and Newton was finishing his laws of motion. What we see tonight is a thermal echo of that age of wigs, sextants and newly understood comets.

Where it is and when to see it

HIP 48559 lies in the southern celestial hemisphere. It is visible to the naked eye under a dark sky. Its best month of the year is March, when it culminates around midnight.

From London it culminates about 13° above the horizon.
From New York it culminates about 23° above the horizon.
From Sydney it culminates about 82° above the horizon.

It can be seen from anywhere south of 64° N.

It ranks no. 33 in brightness among the 121 stars of Hydra in our catalogue. To find it, start from Alphard, the brightest: it lies about 18° away (a fist at arm's length covers about 10°).

The light you see today left it about 340 years ago.

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A public signature from a real person. The chosen name is a symbolic denomination within Stelvia, with no official standing or IAU recognition: the sky is not for sale and belongs to no one.

Astronomical data for HIP 48559

Constellation: Hydra
Apparent magnitude: 4.87
Distance: 341.9 light years
Coordinates (J2000): RA 148.551° · Dec -25.932°
Catalogue: HIP 48559 · HD 85859

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

Other stars in Hydra

Hydra has 121 stars in Stelvia's catalogue. Here are a few of them.

See all 121 stars in Hydra