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
wb_twilight Astronomical TwilightWhat's Visible Now?
All Constellations » Cancer » 

Asellus Borealis - γ Cancri (gamma Cancri)

Altitude: 4.5°   Azimuth: 299.4°   Direction: West-North-West

Asellus Borealis, also designated as γ Cancri (gamma Cancri), is a multiple sub-giant star in the constellation of Cancer.

Asellus Borealis visual magnitude is 4.66. Because of its moderate brightness, Asellus Borealis 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 Asellus Borealis is -0.106 arcsec per year in Right Ascension and -0.039 arcsec per year in Declination and the associated displacement for the next 1000 years is represented with the red arrow.

Image of Asellus Borealis - γ Cancri (gamma Cancri) star
DSS2 image of Asellus Borealis. The red arrow shows the motion of Asellus Borealis during the next 1000 years (-1.77 arcmin in Right Ascension and -0.65 arcmin in declination);

Key facts about Asellus Borealis

4.66
Sub-giant

Asellus Borealis - γ Cancri (gamma Cancri) is above the horizon from Greenwich, United Kingdom edit_location_alt.

Altitude: 4.5°
Azimuth: 299.4°
Direction: West-North-West

Celestial coordinates and finder chart of Asellus Borealis

Asellus Borealis is situated close to the celestial equator, as such, it is at least partly visible from both hemispheres in certain times of the year. Celestial coordinates for the J2000 equinox as well as galactic coordinates of Asellus Borealis are provided in the following table:

08h 43m 17s
+21° 28’ 06”
204.17°
33.73°
Cancer

The simplified sky map below shows the position of Asellus Borealis in the sky:

Finder chart Asellus Borealis - γ Cancri (gamma Cancri) star
Simplified finder chart for Asellus Borealis - γ Cancri (gamma Cancri).

Visibility of Asellus Borealis 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 Asellus Borealis - γ Cancri (gamma Cancri) 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: 68.5°
Max altitude: 60.0°
Azimuth: 291.5°

Distance of Asellus Borealis from the Sun and relative movement

Asellus Borealis is distant 158.41 light years from the Sun and it is moving far from the Sun at the speed of 29 kilometers per second.

48.59 pc
158.41 ly
29 km/s
-0.106 arcsec/year
-0.039 arcsec/year

Spectral properties of Asellus Borealis

Asellus Borealis belongs to spectral class A1 and has a luminosity class of IV corresponding to a sub-giant star.

1.23
A1IV
9882K

The red dot in the diagram below shows where Asellus Borealis is situated in the Hertzsprung–Russell diagram.

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

Asellus Borealis star system properties

Asellus Borealis 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 Asellus Borealis double sysyem:

4.66
8.66
4
106.3 arcsec

Alternative designations of Asellus Borealis

Asellus Borealis
γ Cancri
(gamma Cancri)
SAO80378
SAO80378