
Star profile
Delta Crateris
What is Delta Crateris
Delta Crateris is the leading light of the Cup, a quiet constellation that mythology linked to the chalice of Apollo. At 186 light-years, this orange K-type giant has exhausted the hydrogen in its core and swollen into an aged, ruddy sun —cool at the surface but enormous in size. Its coppery glow marks the rim of the Cup spilled across Hydra's back.
Where it is and when to see it
Delta Crateris 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 24° above the horizon.
- From New York it culminates about 35° above the horizon.
- From Sydney it culminates about 71° above the horizon.
It can be seen from anywhere south of 75° N.
It is the brightest of the 17 stars of Crater in our catalogue, which makes it the best starting point for finding your way around the constellation.
The light you see today left it about 190 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 Delta Crateris
- Constellation
- Crater
- Apparent magnitude
- 3.56
- Distance
- 185.8 light years
- Coordinates (J2000)
- RA 169.835° · Dec -14.779°
- Catalogue
- HIP 55282 · HD 98430
A symbolic commemorative gift: neither the signature nor the chosen name implies ownership of the star or recognition by the IAU.
Other stars in Crater
Crater has 17 stars in Stelvia's catalogue. Here are a few of them.
- Gamma Crateris4.06
- AlkesAlpha Crateris4.08
- Beta Crateris4.46
- Theta Crateris4.70
- Zeta Crateris4.71
- Epsilon Crateris4.81
- Lambda Crateris5.08
- Eta Crateris5.17