α Arae (alpha Arae)

Below the horizon. Never rises today

Alt: -14.50° Az: 199.35° Direction: South-South-West

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 45s

Declination -49° 53’ 32”

Hour Angle 01h 59m 27s

Sidereal Time 19h 33m 13s

J2000

Right Ascension 17h 31m 50s

Declination -49° 52’ 33”

Galactic Coordinates

Galactic Longitude 340.76°

Galactic Latitude -8.83°

Finder Chart

Simplified 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

α Arae (alpha Arae) is currently not visible from Greenwich, UK

Set Location

Other stars in Ara