Star profile
Beta Ara
Highly luminous starWhat is Beta Ara
Beta Arae shines as the second jewel of the Altar, an orange supergiant whose light has travelled some 646 years to reach us. Its cool K-type spectrum hides a colossal power, burning with the strength of thousands of suns under the southern sky. To the ancient Greeks, Ara was the altar where the gods sealed their pact against the Titans —and this orange ember feels like the last glowing coal of that sacred fire.
Where it is and when to see it
Beta Ara 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 culminates about 68° above the horizon.
It can be seen from anywhere south of 34° N.
It is the brightest of the 43 stars of Ara in our catalogue, which makes it the best starting point for finding your way around the constellation.
The light you see today left it about 650 years ago.
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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 Beta Ara
- Constellation
- Ara
- Apparent magnitude
- 2.84
- Distance
- 645.9 light years
- Coordinates (J2000)
- RA 261.325° · Dec -55.530°
- Catalogue
- HIP 85258 · HD 157244
A symbolic commemorative gift: neither the signature nor the chosen name implies ownership of the star or recognition by the IAU.
Other stars in Ara
Ara has 43 stars in Stelvia's catalogue. Here are a few of them.
- Alpha Ara2.84
- Zeta Ara3.12
- Gamma Ara3.31
- Delta Ara3.60
- Theta Ara3.65
- Eta Ara3.77
- Epsilon 1 Ara4.06
- Sigma Ara4.56