We use cookies to deliver essential features and to measure their performance. By using this site you accept our Privacy Policies.
A Complete Guide to the Solar System and the Night Sky
Donate Now! Help keep this site free and ads-free!
public Observing fromLocation: Greenwich, United Kingdom edit_location_alt
SunriseRise: 6:04  
clear_day Transit: 12:06  
SunsetSet: 18:09
sunny DaytimeWhat's Visible Now?
All Constellations » Ursa Major » 

Alula Australis - ξ Ursae Majoris (xi Ursae Majoris)

Altitude: -7.0°   Azimuth: 1.1°   Direction: North

Alula Australis, also designated as ξ Ursae Majoris (xi Ursae Majoris), is a variable and multiple hypergiant star in the constellation of Ursa Major.

Alula Australis visual magnitude is 4.41. Because of its moderate brightness, Alula Australis should be easily visible from locations with dark skies, while it can be barely visible, or not visible at all, from skies affected by light pollution.

The proper motion of Alula Australis is -0.43 arcsec per year in Right Ascension and -0.586 arcsec per year in Declination and the associated displacement for the next 1000 years is represented with the red arrow.

Image of Alula Australis - ξ Ursae Majoris (xi Ursae Majoris) star
DSS2 image of Alula Australis. The red arrow shows the motion of Alula Australis during the next 1000 years (-7.17 arcmin in Right Ascension and -9.77 arcmin in declination);

Key facts about Alula Australis

4.41
Hypergiant

Alula Australis - ξ Ursae Majoris (xi Ursae Majoris) is below the horizon from Greenwich, United Kingdom edit_location_alt.

Altitude: -7.0°
Azimuth: 1.1°
Direction: North

Celestial coordinates and finder chart of Alula Australis

Alula Australis is situated north of the celestial equator, as such, it is more easily visible from the northern hemisphere. Celestial coordinates for the J2000 equinox as well as galactic coordinates of Alula Australis are provided in the following table:

11h 18m 11s
+31° 31’ 45”
195.08°
69.25°
Ursa Major

The simplified sky map below shows the position of Alula Australis in the sky:

Finder chart Alula Australis - ξ Ursae Majoris (xi Ursae Majoris) star
Simplified finder chart for Alula Australis - ξ Ursae Majoris (xi Ursae Majoris).

Visibility of Alula Australis from your location

Location: Greenwich, United Kingdom edit_location_alt
Latitude: 51° 28’ 47” N
Longitude: 0° 00’ 00” E
Timezone: Europe/London

Today's Alula Australis - ξ Ursae Majoris (xi Ursae Majoris) rise, transit and set times from Greenwich, United Kingdom edit_location_alt are the following (all times relative to the local timezone Europe/London):

Azimuth: 58.5°
Max altitude: 70.0°
Azimuth: 301.5°

Distance of Alula Australis from the Sun and relative movement

Alula Australis is distant 33.96 light years from the Sun and it is moving towards the Sun at the speed of 16 kilometers per second.

10.42 pc
33.96 ly
-16 km/s
-0.43 arcsec/year
-0.586 arcsec/year

Spectral properties of Alula Australis

Alula Australis belongs to spectral class G0 and has a luminosity class of V corresponding to a hypergiant star.

4.32
G0V
6007K

The red dot in the diagram below shows where Alula Australis is situated in the Hertzsprung–Russell diagram.

HR Diagram
H-R diagram showing the position of Alula Australis. Attribution: Richard Powell / CC BY-SA

Alula Australis star system properties

Alula Australis is a visual double star which can be observed with the help of small or medium telescopes. The table below shows key information about the Alula Australis double sysyem:

4.41
4.91
0.5
3.1 arcsec

Alternative designations of Alula Australis

Alula Australis
ξ Ursae Majoris
(xi Ursae Majoris)
53 Ursae Majoris
SAO62484
SAO62484
Gl 423 A