Star profile

Alula Borealis

Nu Ursae Majoris · Ursa Major

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

What is Alula Borealis

Alula Borealis is the upper orange giant of the «Alula» pair —the old Arab astronomers called this asterism «the first leap» of the gazelle, the stellar trace of a stride crossing the foot of Ursa Major. At 399 light-years it shines discreetly, but together with her sister Australis it forms a visual duo that for centuries served as a test for keen eyes on moonless nights.

Where it is and when to see it

Alula Borealis 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: the Sun sits at the opposite point of the sky and the star culminates around midnight. How high it climbs above the horizon depends on the latitude you watch from.

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The signature wall

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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 Alula Borealis

Constellation: Ursa Major
Apparent magnitude: 3.49
Distance: 399.3 light years
Coordinates (J2000): RA 169.620° · Dec 33.094°
Catalogue: HIP 55219 · HD 98262

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Other stars in Ursa Major

Ursa Major has 124 stars in Stelvia's catalogue. Here are a few of them.

See all 124 stars in Ursa Major