Star profile

68 Virginis

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

What is 68 Virginis

68 Virginis is an orange K-type giant 440 light-years away, in one of the vastest constellations of the sky. Its light, leaving home in the high Renaissance, has crossed a considerable stretch of Milky Way to reach us. It is a mature body, cooler than the Sun yet far larger, with the copper calm of stars that have already left youth behind.

Where it is and when to see it

68 Virginis lies in the southern celestial hemisphere. It is visible to the naked eye under a dark sky. Its best month of the year is April, when it culminates around midnight.

From London it culminates about 26° above the horizon.
From New York it culminates about 37° above the horizon.
From Sydney it culminates about 69° above the horizon.

It can be seen from anywhere south of 77° N.

It ranks no. 46 in brightness among the 99 stars of Virgo in our catalogue. To find it, start from Spica, the brightest: it lies about 2° away (a fist at arm's length covers about 10°).

The light you see today left it about 440 years ago.

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Astronomical data for 68 Virginis

Constellation: Virgo
Apparent magnitude: 5.27
Distance: 440.2 light years
Coordinates (J2000): RA 201.680° · Dec -12.708°
Catalogue: HIP 65581 · HD 116870

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Other stars in Virgo

Virgo has 99 stars in Stelvia's catalogue. Here are a few of them.

See all 99 stars in Virgo