Star profile

Zubenelhakrabi

Gamma Librae · Libra

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

What is Zubenelhakrabi

Zubenelhakrabi belongs to Libra, the only zodiacal constellation that does not depict a living being but a pair of scales. Its name, however, betrays a far older origin: «Zubān al-‘Aqrab», «the scorpion's claw», because Greek astronomers amputated a piece of the neighbouring Scorpion to assemble this latecomer balance. It is an orange K-type giant 163 light-years away, whose name will forever bear the mark of the mythological creature it once belonged to.

Where it is and when to see it

Zubenelhakrabi 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 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 ranks no. 6 in brightness among the 49 stars of Libra in our catalogue. To find it, start from Zubeneschamali, the brightest: it lies about 7° away (a fist at arm's length covers about 10°).

The light you see today left it about 160 years ago.

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Astronomical data for Zubenelhakrabi

Constellation: Libra
Apparent magnitude: 3.91
Distance: 163.2 light years
Coordinates (J2000): RA 233.882° · Dec -14.790°
Catalogue: HIP 76333 · HD 138905

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Other stars in Libra

Libra has 49 stars in Stelvia's catalogue. Here are a few of them.

See all 49 stars in Libra