Star profile
HYG 117996
Binary systemWhat is HYG 117996
In the small southern constellation of the Toucan shines a white type-A star, hotter and more luminous than the Sun. It does not travel alone: it forms a binary system with a companion, two bodies bound by gravity in a patient dance lasting millennia. Its light, surprisingly close, set out barely 68 years ago: it was 1958, when Sputnik 1 was launched and humanity crossed the frontier of space for the first time. It arrived in time to see what was beginning.
Where it is and when to see it
HYG 117996 lies in the southern 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 rises above the horizon.
- From New York it never rises above the horizon.
- From Sydney it never sets and culminates about 61° up.
It can be seen from anywhere south of 27° N.
It ranks no. 28 in brightness among the 28 stars of Tucana in our catalogue. To find it, start from Alpha Tucanae, the brightest: it lies about 16° away (a fist at arm's length covers about 10°).
The light you see today left it about 68 years ago.
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Astronomical data for HYG 117996
- Constellation
- Tucana
- Apparent magnitude
- 6.00
- Distance
- 68.2 light years
- Coordinates (J2000)
- RA 8.185° · Dec -63.031°
- Catalogue
- HYG 117996
A symbolic commemorative gift: neither the signature nor the chosen name implies ownership of the star or recognition by the IAU.
Other stars in Tucana
Tucana has 28 stars in Stelvia's catalogue. Here are a few of them.
- Alpha Tucanae2.87
- Gamma Tucanae3.99
- Zeta Tucanae4.23
- HIP 42005.73
- HIP 31705.89
- HIP 1180925.95
- HIP 1119675.98
- HIP 33525.99