Star profile
HYG 119397
Binary systemWhat is HYG 119397
In the small constellation Equuleus, the celestial colt, hums a yellow-white F-type binary system a mere 60 light-years away —a close neighbourhood on the cosmic scale. Its light departed as the 1960s drew to a close: humanity had just stepped onto the Moon and the world was shedding its old skin. Two suns locked in a gravitational dance write together a single point of pale light upon the firmament.
Where it is and when to see it
HYG 119397 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 culminates about 49° above the horizon.
- From New York it culminates about 59° above the horizon.
- From Sydney it culminates about 46° above the horizon.
It can be seen from anywhere north of 80° S.
It ranks no. 7 in brightness among the 12 stars of Equuleus in our catalogue. To find it, start from Kitalpha, the brightest: it lies about 5° away (a fist at arm's length covers about 10°).
The light you see today left it about 60 years ago.
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Astronomical data for HYG 119397
- Constellation
- Equuleus
- Apparent magnitude
- 5.40
- Distance
- 60.3 light years
- Coordinates (J2000)
- RA 318.621° · Dec 10.006°
- Catalogue
- HYG 119397
A symbolic commemorative gift: neither the signature nor the chosen name implies ownership of the star or recognition by the IAU.
Other stars in Equuleus
Equuleus has 12 stars in Stelvia's catalogue. Here are a few of them.
- KitalphaAlpha Equuleus3.92
- Delta Equuleus4.47
- Gamma Equuleus4.70
- Beta Equuleus5.16
- HIP 1035715.24
- Epsilon Equuleus5.30
- 3 Equuleus5.63
- 9 Equuleus5.81