Star profile

HIP 73223

Variable star

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

What is HIP 73223

Orange and quietly variable, this K-type giant lives in Apus, the southern bird of paradise named by Dutch navigators in the late sixteenth century. Its light has crossed space for 374 years: it set out when Galileo —blind by then and under house arrest— was finishing his last notes on motion.

Where it is and when to see it

HIP 73223 lies in the southern celestial hemisphere. It is visible to the naked eye under a dark sky. Its best month of the year is June, 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. 9 in brightness among the 21 stars of Apus in our catalogue. To find it, start from Alpha Apus, the brightest: it lies about 2° 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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Astronomical data for HIP 73223

Constellation: Apus
Apparent magnitude: 5.37
Distance: 374.5 light years
Coordinates (J2000): RA 224.471° · Dec -76.663°
Catalogue: HIP 73223 · HD 131109

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Other stars in Apus

Apus has 21 stars in Stelvia's catalogue. Here are a few of them.

See all 21 stars in Apus