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 and help us to keep this site free and ad-free!
public Observing fromLocation: Greenwich, United Kingdom edit_location_alt
north SunriseRise: 7:54  
clear_day Transit: 11:51  
SunsetSet: 15:49 south
sunny DaytimeWhat's Visible Now?
All Constellations » Auriga » 

χ Aurigae (chi Aurigae)

Altitude: 3.5°   Azimuth: 38.8°   Direction: North-East

χ Aurigae is a supergiant star in the constellation of Auriga.

χ Aurigae visual magnitude is 4.76. Because of its moderate brightness, χ Aurigae should be easily visible from locations with dark skyes, while it can be barely visible, or not visible at all, from skyes affected by light pollution.

The table below summarizes the key facts about χ Aurigae:

4.76
Supergiant

χ Aurigae (chi Aurigae) is above the horizon from Greenwich, United Kingdom edit_location_alt.

Altitude: 3.5°
Azimuth: 38.8°
Direction: North-East

Celestial coordinates and finder chart of χ Aurigae

χ Aurigae 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 χ Aurigae are provided in the following table:

05h 32m 43s
+32° 11’ 30”
175.77°
-0.61°
Auriga

The simplified sky map below shows the position of χ Aurigae in the sky:

Finder chart χ Aurigae (chi Aurigae) star
Simplified finder chart for χ Aurigae (chi Aurigae).

Visibility of χ Aurigae 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 χ Aurigae (chi Aurigae) 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: 57.8°
Max altitude: 70.7°
Azimuth: 302.2°

Digitized Sky Survey image of χ Aurigae

The image below is a photograph of χ Aurigae from the Digitized Sky Survey 2 (DSS2 - see the credits section) taken in the red channel. The area of sky represented in the image is 0.5x0.5 degrees (30x30 arcmins). The proper motion of χ Aurigae is -0.002 arcsec per year in Right Ascension and -0.003 arcsec per year in Declination and the associated displacement for the next 100000 years is represented with the red arrow.

Image of χ Aurigae (chi Aurigae) star
DSS2 image of χ Aurigae. The red arrow shows the motion of χ Aurigae during the next 100000 years (-3.33 arcmin in Right Ascension and -5.00 arcmin in declination);

Distance of χ Aurigae from the Sun and relative movement

χ Aurigae is distant 4,075.00 light years from the Sun

1,250.00 pc
4,075.00 ly
-0.002 arcsec/year
-0.003 arcsec/year

Spectral properties of χ Aurigae

χ Aurigae belongs to spectral class B5 and has a luminosity class of I corresponding to a supergiant star.

-5.72
B5I
7217K

The red dot in the diagram below shows where χ Aurigae is situated in the Hertzsprung–Russell diagram.

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

Alternative designations of χ Aurigae

χ Aurigae
(chi Aurigae)
SAO58164
SAO58164