Achernar - α Eridani (alpha Eridani)
Achernar, also designated as α Eridani (alpha Eridani), is a variable main-sequence star in the constellation of Eridanus.
Achernar visual magnitude is 0.46, making it the 9th brightest star in the sky. Thanks to its high brightness, Achernar is clearly visible when observed from locations with dark skies, and should be also quite easily visible from light polluted areas.
The proper motion of Achernar is 0.095 arcsec per year in Right Ascension and -0.035 arcsec per year in Declination and the associated displacement for the next 1000 years is represented with the red arrow.
Key facts about Achernar
Achernar - α Eridani (alpha Eridani) is below the horizon from Greenwich, United Kingdom.
Altitude: -27.9°
Azimuth: 149.6°
Direction: South-South-East
Celestial coordinates and finder chart of Achernar
Achernar is situated south of the celestial equator, as such, it is more easily visible from the southern hemisphere. Celestial coordinates for the J2000 equinox as well as galactic coordinates of Achernar are provided in the following table:
The simplified sky map below shows the position of Achernar in the sky:
Visibility of Achernar from your location
Location: Greenwich, United Kingdom
Latitude: 51° 28’ 47” N
Longitude: 0° 00’ 00” E
Timezone: Europe/London
Achernar - α Eridani (alpha Eridani) is currently not visible from Greenwich, United Kingdom
Distance of Achernar from the Sun and relative movement
Achernar is distant 143.74 light years from the Sun and it is moving far from the Sun at the speed of 16 kilometers per second.
Spectral properties of Achernar
Achernar belongs to spectral class B3 and has a luminosity class of V corresponding to a main-sequence star.
The red dot in the diagram below shows where Achernar is situated in the Hertzsprung–Russell diagram.
