Star profile
Theta Apus
Variable starWhat is Theta Apus
Theta Apodis is a cool red M-type variable giant some 369 light-years away inside Apus, a small southern constellation depicting the bird of paradise. Its brightness is not constant: it slowly oscillates, the breathing of an aged star whose internal balance has grown less stable as it advances through the final stages of its evolution.
Where it is and when to see it
Theta Apus lies in the southern celestial hemisphere. It is visible to the naked eye under a dark sky. Its best month of the year is May, 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 never sets and culminates about 47° up.
It can be seen from anywhere south of 13° N.
It ranks no. 15 in brightness among the 21 stars of Apus in our catalogue. To find it, start from Alpha Apus, the brightest: it lies about 3° away (a fist at arm's length covers about 10°).
The light you see today left it about 370 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 Theta Apus
- Constellation
- Apus
- Apparent magnitude
- 5.69
- Distance
- 369.0 light years
- Coordinates (J2000)
- RA 211.334° · Dec -76.797°
- Catalogue
- HIP 68815 · HD 122250
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Other stars in Apus
Apus has 21 stars in Stelvia's catalogue. Here are a few of them.
- Alpha Apus3.83
- Gamma Apus3.86
- Beta Apus4.23
- HIP 811415.50
- HIP 728335.59
- Kappa 2 Apus5.64
- HIP 788685.70
- HIP 857605.83