Star profile
Wurren
Zeta Phoenicis · Phoenix
Variable starWhat is Wurren
Wurren is a variable star in the constellation Phoenix, a mythical bird added to the southern sky by the Dutch navigators Keyser and de Houtman in the late 16th century. The name comes from the Wardaman language of Aboriginal Australia: one of the few modern designations the International Astronomical Union has assigned in recognition of non-European cultures. She is blue, hot and lies nearly 300 light-years away.
Where it is and when to see it
Wurren lies in the southern celestial hemisphere. It is visible to the naked eye under a dark sky. Its best month of the year is September, 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 culminates about 69° above the horizon.
It can be seen from anywhere south of 35° N.
It ranks no. 7 in brightness among the 39 stars of Phoenix in our catalogue. To find it, start from Ankaa, the brightest: it lies about 15° away (a fist at arm's length covers about 10°).
The light you see today left it about 300 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 Wurren
- Constellation
- Phoenix
- Apparent magnitude
- 3.94
- Distance
- 298.7 light years
- Coordinates (J2000)
- RA 17.096° · Dec -55.246°
- Catalogue
- HIP 5348 · HD 6882
A symbolic commemorative gift: neither the signature nor the chosen name implies ownership of the star or recognition by the IAU.
Other stars in Phoenix
Phoenix has 39 stars in Stelvia's catalogue. Here are a few of them.
- AnkaaAlpha Phoenicis2.40
- Beta Phoenicis3.32
- Gamma Phoenicis3.41
- Epsilon Phoenicis3.88
- Kappa Phoenicis3.93
- Delta Phoenicis3.93
- Eta Phoenicis4.36
- Psi Phoenicis4.39