κ Aurigae (kappa Aurigae)

κ Aurigae is a variable giant star in the constellation of Auriga.

κ Aurigae visual magnitude is 4.35. Because of its moderate brightness, κ 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 κ Aurigae:

Color of κ Aurigae ⬤

Magnitude of κ Aurigae 4.35

Class Giant

VISIBILITY RIGHT NOW κ Aurigae (kappa Aurigae) is above the horizon from Greenwich, United Kingdom edit_location_alt. Altitude: 31°.

Celestial coordinates and finder chart of κ Aurigae

κ 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 κ Aurigae are provided in the following table:

Right Ascension J2000 06h 15m 22s

Declination J2000 +29° 29’ 53”

Galactic Longitude 182.72°

Galactic Latitude 5.92°

Constellation Auriga

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

Finder chart κ Aurigae (kappa Aurigae) star

Simplified finder chart for κ Aurigae (kappa Aurigae).

Visibility of κ 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 κ Aurigae (kappa 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: 60.5° RISE 5:30

Max altitude: 68.0° TRANSIT 14:28

Azimuth: 299.5° SET 23:26

RIGHT NOW κ Aurigae (kappa Aurigae) is above the horizon from Greenwich, United Kingdom

Digitized Sky Survey image of κ Aurigae

The image below is a photograph of κ 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 κ Aurigae is -0.073 arcsec per year in Right Ascension and -0.262 arcsec per year in Declination and the associated displacement for the next 1000 years is represented with the red arrow.

DSS2 image of κ Aurigae. The red arrow shows the motion of κ Aurigae during the next 1000 years (-1.22 arcmin in Right Ascension and -4.37 arcmin in declination);

Distance of κ Aurigae from the Sun and relative movement

κ Aurigae is distant 168.82 light years from the Sun and it is moving far from the Sun at the speed of 20 kilometers per second.

Distance (parsec) 51.79 pc

Distance (light year) 168.82 ly

Heliocentric radial velocity 20 km/s

Proper Motion RA -0.073 arcsec/year

Proper Motion Dec -0.262 arcsec/year

Spectral properties of κ Aurigae

κ Aurigae belongs to spectral class G8 and has a luminosity class of III corresponding to a giant star.

Absolute magnitude 0.78

Spectral Type G8III

Color Index (B-V) 1.02

Temperature of κ Aurigae 4695K

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

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

Alternative designations of κ Aurigae

Bayer designation κ Aurigae
(kappa Aurigae)

Flamsteed designation 44 Aurigae

Henry Draper Catalogue HD43039

SAO Catalogue SAO78143

Hipparcos Catalogue HIP29696

Durchmusterung Catalogue BD+29 1154

FK5 Catalogue 1168

General Catalogue of Variable Stars 2877

In Evidence

Other stars in Auriga