Star profile

Eta Norma

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

What is Eta Norma

η Normae shines at 220 light-years within the small southern constellation of the Carpenter's Square, drawn in the eighteenth century by the abbot Lacaille to honor the workshop's instruments. A G-class star, close cousin to the Sun in temperature and color, it gives off the same calm yellow light — yet from a distance no human voyage will ever cross.

Where it is and when to see it

Eta Norma 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 culminates about 1° above the horizon.
From Sydney it culminates about 75° above the horizon.

It can be seen from anywhere south of 41° N.

It ranks no. 4 in brightness among the 26 stars of Norma in our catalogue. To find it, start from Gamma 2 Norma, the brightest: it lies about 3° away (a fist at arm's length covers about 10°).

The light you see today left it about 220 years ago.

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Astronomical data for Eta Norma

Constellation: Norma
Apparent magnitude: 4.65
Distance: 219.5 light years
Coordinates (J2000): RA 240.804° · Dec -49.230°
Catalogue: HIP 78639 · HD 143546

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Other stars in Norma

Norma has 26 stars in Stelvia's catalogue. Here are a few of them.

See all 26 stars in Norma