Star profile

Theta Librae

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

What is Theta Librae

A calm orange giant in the Scales, 168 light-years away, settled into the quiet phase where helium replaces hydrogen as the nuclear fuel. Its warm light skirts the ecliptic, which condemns it to be occulted again and again by the passing Moon — a silent eclipse repeated since long before astronomy was a name. In the classical drawing of the constellation it marks one of the pans of the balance, the old symbol of judicial equilibrium.

Where it is and when to see it

Theta Librae 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 22° above the horizon.
From New York it culminates about 33° above the horizon.
From Sydney it culminates about 73° above the horizon.

It can be seen from anywhere south of 73° N.

It ranks no. 7 in brightness among the 49 stars of Libra in our catalogue. To find it, start from Zubeneschamali, the brightest: it lies about 12° away (a fist at arm's length covers about 10°).

The light you see today left it about 170 years ago.

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Astronomical data for Theta Librae

Constellation: Libra
Apparent magnitude: 4.13
Distance: 168.5 light years
Coordinates (J2000): RA 238.456° · Dec -16.729°
Catalogue: HIP 77853 · HD 142198

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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