Star profile

Kappa Arietis

3D likeness based on its real data · class A · ~8,500 K

What is Kappa Arietis

κ Arietis is a white A-type star in the body of the Ram, an ancient zodiacal figure that opens the cycle of signs. Its crisp light —rising from a surface near ten thousand degrees— travels for almost two centuries before reaching our eyes. It shines discreetly in a region of sky where the zodiac moves away from the Milky Way and the firmament grows darker.

Where it is and when to see it

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

From London it culminates about 61° above the horizon.
From New York it culminates about 72° above the horizon.
From Sydney it culminates about 33° above the horizon.

It can be seen from anywhere north of 67° S.

It ranks no. 13 in brightness among the 57 stars of Aries in our catalogue. To find it, start from Hamal, the brightest: it lies about 1° away (a fist at arm's length covers about 10°).

The light you see today left it about 180 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 Kappa Arietis

Constellation: Aries
Apparent magnitude: 5.03
Distance: 181.6 light years
Coordinates (J2000): RA 31.641° · Dec 22.648°
Catalogue: HIP 9836 · HD 12869

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

Other stars in Aries

Aries has 57 stars in Stelvia's catalogue. Here are a few of them.

See all 57 stars in Aries