Star profile

Felis

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

What is Felis

Felis is the star of the celestial cat, a constellation created by the French astronomer Lalande in the eighteenth century and later abolished by astronomical modernity, until the International Astronomical Union rescued it as a proper name in 2018. It shines in Hydra at 614 light years: an orange K-class giant whose light departed when the Italian Renaissance still set Europe's fashions.

Where it is and when to see it

Felis 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 19° above the horizon.
From New York it culminates about 30° above the horizon.
From Sydney it culminates about 75° above the horizon.

It can be seen from anywhere south of 71° N.

It ranks no. 40 in brightness among the 121 stars of Hydra in our catalogue. To find it, start from Alphard, the brightest: it lies about 12° away (a fist at arm's length covers about 10°).

The light you see today left it about 610 years ago.

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Astronomical data for Felis

Constellation: Hydra
Apparent magnitude: 4.94
Distance: 614.3 light years
Coordinates (J2000): RA 148.718° · Dec -19.009°
Catalogue: HIP 48615 · HD 85951

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Other stars in Hydra

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

See all 121 stars in Hydra