Star profile

Elgafar

Phi Virginis · Virgo

3D likeness based on its real data · class G · ~5,500 K

What is Elgafar

Elgafar is a yellow star in the constellation of the Maiden, 118 light-years away, similar to the Sun but somewhat larger and older. Its name comes from the Arabic «al-ghafr», designating a historical lunar mansion used by medieval astronomers to divide the sky into stations. It is one of those lights that go unnoticed, yet for centuries served to mark days and nights without a clock.

Where it is and when to see it

Elgafar 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 36° above the horizon.
From New York it culminates about 47° above the horizon.
From Sydney it culminates about 58° above the horizon.

It can be seen from anywhere south of 88° N.

It ranks no. 26 in brightness among the 99 stars of Virgo in our catalogue. To find it, start from Spica, the brightest: it lies about 18° away (a fist at arm's length covers about 10°).

The light you see today left it about 120 years ago.

Find it on the sky map

It opens in your browser. Free, no account, nothing to install.

Leave your signature on Elgafar

Your name and a message go up on the map for everyone to read. Signing is free.

Without a lock, someone else can replace your signature. How the lock works

We'll ask for an email to confirm it's you, no password.

Write my signature

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 Elgafar

Constellation: Virgo
Apparent magnitude: 4.81
Distance: 118.3 light years
Coordinates (J2000): RA 217.051° · Dec -2.228°
Catalogue: HIP 70755 · HD 126868

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

Other stars in Virgo

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

See all 99 stars in Virgo