Star profile

Chertan

Theta Leonis · Leo

3D likeness based on its real data · class A · ~8,500 K

What is Chertan

Chertan is a white star on the flank of Leo, forming with Regulus and Denebola the back of the celestial animal. Its name comes from the Arabic «al-kharātān», «the two little ribs», for it was once counted in pair with a neighbour now less visible. At 165 light-years, its white light crosses space with the geometric sobriety of one whose role is, without flourish, to draw the line of a back across the sky.

Where it is and when to see it

Chertan lies in the northern 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 54° above the horizon.
From New York it culminates about 65° above the horizon.
From Sydney it culminates about 41° above the horizon.

It can be seen from anywhere north of 75° S.

It ranks no. 6 in brightness among the 80 stars of Leo in our catalogue. To find it, start from Regulus, the brightest: it lies about 16° away (a fist at arm's length covers about 10°).

The light you see today left it about 170 years ago.

Find it on the sky map

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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 Chertan

Constellation: Leo
Apparent magnitude: 3.33
Distance: 165.1 light years
Coordinates (J2000): RA 168.560° · Dec 15.430°
Catalogue: HIP 54879 · HD 97633

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

Other stars in Leo

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

See all 80 stars in Leo