α Arae (alpha Arae)

Above the horizon. Rise: 16:58 | Tran: 23:26 | Set: 5:57

Alt: 46.27° Az: 178.81° Direction: South

α Arae is a variable and double main-sequence star of spectral class B2 in the constellation of Ara.

α Arae visual magnitude is 2.95. Because of its brightness, α Arae is clearly visible to the naked eye when observed from locations with dark skies, and should be also quite easily visible from light polluted areas.

DSS2 image of α Arae. The red arrow shows the motion of α Arae during the next 10000 years (-5.17 arcmin in Right Ascension and -11.67 arcmin in declination);

Celestial Coordinates

Apparent

Right Ascension 17h 33m 49s

Declination -49° 53’ 34”

Hour Angle 23h 54m 53s

Sidereal Time 17h 28m 42s

J2000

Right Ascension 17h 31m 50s

Declination -49° 52’ 33”

Galactic Coordinates

Galactic Longitude 340.76°

Galactic Latitude -8.83°

Finder Chart

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Finder chart for α Arae (alpha Arae).

Magnitude, Color, Spectral Class

Color ⬤

Magnitude 2.95

Class Main-sequence

Absolute magnitude -1.40

Spectral Type B2V

Color Index (B-V) -0.17

Temperature 12902K

The red dot in the diagram below shows where α Arae is situated in the Hertzsprung–Russell diagram.

H-R diagram showing the position of α Arae. Attribution: Richard Powell / CC BY-SA

Star System Properties

α Arae is a visual double star which can be observed only with the help of very large telescopes. The table below shows key information about the α Arae double sysyem:

Main star magnitude 2.95

Secondary star magnitude 10.95

Magnitude difference 8

Separation 55.6 arcsec

Distance, Radial Speed, Proper Motion

α Arae is distant 242.20 light years from the Sun

Distance (parsec) 74.29

Distance (light year) 242.20

Proper Motion RA -0.031 arcsec/y

Proper Motion Dec -0.07"/y

Alternative Designations

Bayer designation α Arae
(alpha Arae)

Henry Draper Catalogue HD158427

SAO Catalogue SAO228069

Hipparcos Catalogue HIP85792

Durchmusterung Catalogue CD-4911511

FK5 Catalogue 651

General Catalogue of Variable Stars 8999

Visibility from Your Location

Today's α Arae (alpha Arae) rise, transit and set times from Dodoma, Tanzania are the following (all times relative to the local timezone Africa/Dar_es_Salaam):

Azimuth: 139.9° RISE 16:58

Max altitude: 46.3° TRANSIT 23:26

Azimuth: 220.1° SET 5:57

Name:	Dodoma, Tanzania
Latitude:	6° 10' 20.0" S
Longitude:	35° 44' 22.2" E
Timezone:	Africa/Dar_es_Salaam

Set Location

Other stars in Ara