δ Centauri (delta Centauri)

Altitude: -16.6° Azimuth: 157.2° Direction: South-South-East

δ Centauri is a variable and multiple sub-giant star in the constellation of Centaurus.

δ Centauri visual magnitude is 2.6. Thanks to its high brightness, δ Centauri is clearly visible when observed from locations with dark skyes, and should be also quite easily visible from light polluted areas.

The table below summarizes the key facts about δ Centauri:

Color of δ Centauri ⬤

Magnitude of δ Centauri 2.6

Class Sub-giant

VISIBILITY RIGHT NOW

δ Centauri (delta Centauri) is below the horizon from Greenwich, United Kingdom edit_location_alt.

Altitude: -16.6°
Azimuth: 157.2°
Direction: South-South-East

Celestial coordinates and finder chart of δ Centauri

δ Centauri is situated south of the celestial equator, as such, it is more easily visible from the southern hemisphere. Celestial coordinates for the J2000 equinox as well as galactic coordinates of δ Centauri are provided in the following table:

Right Ascension J2000 12h 08m 21s

Declination J2000 -50° 43’ 20”

Galactic Longitude 296°

Galactic Latitude 11.57°

Constellation Centaurus

The simplified sky map below shows the position of δ Centauri in the sky:

Finder chart δ Centauri (delta Centauri) star

Simplified finder chart for δ Centauri (delta Centauri).

Visibility of δ Centauri from your location

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

δ Centauri (delta Centauri) is currently not visible from Greenwich, United Kingdom edit_location_alt

Digitized Sky Survey image of δ Centauri

The image below is a photograph of δ Centauri 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 δ Centauri is -0.034 arcsec per year in Right Ascension and -0.008 arcsec per year in Declination and the associated displacement for the next 10000 years is represented with the red arrow.

Image of δ Centauri (delta Centauri) star

DSS2 image of δ Centauri. The red arrow shows the motion of δ Centauri during the next 10000 years (-5.67 arcmin in Right Ascension and -1.33 arcmin in declination);

Distance of δ Centauri from the Sun and relative movement

δ Centauri is distant 395.15 light years from the Sun and it is moving far from the Sun at the speed of 11 kilometers per second.

Distance (parsec) 121.21 pc

Distance (light year) 395.15 ly

Heliocentric radial velocity 11 km/s

Proper Motion RA -0.034 arcsec/year

Proper Motion Dec -0.008 arcsec/year

Spectral properties of δ Centauri

δ Centauri belongs to spectral class B2 and has a luminosity class of IV corresponding to a sub-giant star.

Absolute magnitude -2.82

Spectral Type B2IV

Color Index (B-V) -0.12

Temperature of δ Centauri 11920K

The red dot in the diagram below shows where δ Centauri is situated in the Hertzsprung–Russell diagram.

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

δ Centauri star system properties

δ Centauri is a visual double star which can be observed with binoculars or small telescopes. The table below shows key information about the δ Centauri double sysyem:

Main star magnitude 2.6

Secondary star magnitude 4.5

Magnitude difference 1.9

Separation 268.6 arcsec

Alternative designations of δ Centauri

Bayer designation δ Centauri
(delta Centauri)

Henry Draper Catalogue HD105435

SAO Catalogue SAO239689

Hipparcos Catalogue HIP59196

Durchmusterung Catalogue CD-50 6697

FK5 Catalogue 452

General Catalogue of Variable Stars Del Cen

In Evidence

Other stars in Centaurus