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
Help keep this site free and ads-free! Donate Now!
public Observing fromLocation: Greenwich, United Kingdom edit_location_alt
SunriseRise: 5:47  
clear_day Transit: 12:56  
SunsetSet: 20:07
sunny DaytimeWhat's Visible Now?
All Constellations » Ara » 

η Arae (eta Arae)

Altitude: -82.4°   Azimuth: 176.4°   Direction: South

η Arae is a double giant star in the constellation of Ara.

η Arae visual magnitude is 3.76. Because of its moderate brightness, η Arae 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 η Arae is 0.038 arcsec per year in Right Ascension and -0.028 arcsec per year in Declination and the associated displacement for the next 10000 years is represented with the red arrow.

Image of η Arae (eta Arae) star
DSS2 image of η Arae. The red arrow shows the motion of η Arae during the next 10000 years (6.33 arcmin in Right Ascension and -4.67 arcmin in declination);

Key facts about η Arae

3.76
Giant

η Arae (eta Arae) is below the horizon from Greenwich, United Kingdom edit_location_alt.

Altitude: -82.4°
Azimuth: 176.4°
Direction: South

Celestial coordinates and finder chart of η Arae

η Arae 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 η Arae are provided in the following table:

16h 49m 47s
-59° 02’ 29”
329.64°
-9.16°
Ara

The simplified sky map below shows the position of η Arae in the sky:

Finder chart η Arae (eta Arae) star
Simplified finder chart for η Arae (eta Arae).

Visibility of η Arae from your location

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

η Arae (eta Arae) is currently not visible from Greenwich, United Kingdom edit_location_alt

Distance of η Arae from the Sun and relative movement

η Arae is distant 313.16 light years from the Sun and it is moving far from the Sun at the speed of 9 kilometers per second.

96.06 pc
313.16 ly
9 km/s
0.038 arcsec/year
-0.028 arcsec/year

Spectral properties of η Arae

η Arae belongs to spectral class K5 and has a luminosity class of III corresponding to a giant star.

-1.15
K5III
3691K

The red dot in the diagram below shows where η Arae is situated in the Hertzsprung–Russell diagram.

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

η Arae star system properties

η 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 η Arae double sysyem:

3.76
13.26
9.5
23.6 arcsec

Alternative designations of η Arae

η Arae
(eta Arae)
SAO244168
SAO244168