Star profile

HIP 96459

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

What is HIP 96459

In the Swan, Cygnus, soars an orange type-K giant 133 light-years away. Its light departed in the late nineteenth century, when Tesla and Edison were waging the war of the currents and electricity lit the first streets of the world. Larger and more luminous than the Sun, its copper hue is that of mature K stars —a serene glow suspended between the wings of the celestial bird.

Where it is and when to see it

HIP 96459 lies in the northern celestial hemisphere. It is visible to the naked eye under a dark sky. Its best month of the year is August, when it culminates around midnight.

From London it never sets and culminates about 83° up.
From New York it culminates about 86° above the horizon.
From Sydney it culminates about 11° above the horizon.

It can be seen from anywhere north of 45° S.

It ranks no. 59 in brightness among the 137 stars of Cygnus in our catalogue. To find it, start from Deneb, the brightest: it lies about 11° away (a fist at arm's length covers about 10°).

The light you see today left it about 130 years ago.

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Astronomical data for HIP 96459

Constellation: Cygnus
Apparent magnitude: 5.17
Distance: 133.2 light years
Coordinates (J2000): RA 294.158° · Dec 44.695°
Catalogue: HIP 96459 · HD 185351

A symbolic commemorative gift: neither the signature nor the chosen name implies ownership of the star or recognition by the IAU.

Other stars in Cygnus

Cygnus has 137 stars in Stelvia's catalogue. Here are a few of them.

See all 137 stars in Cygnus