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Meissa - λ Orionis (lambda Orionis)

Meissa, also designated as λ Orionis (lambda Orionis), is a variable and multiple giant star in the constellation of Orion.

Meissa visual magnitude is 3.54. Because of its moderate brightness, Meissa 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 Meissa:

Color of Meissa ⬤

Magnitude of Meissa 3.54

Class Giant

VISIBILITY RIGHT NOW Meissa - λ Orionis (lambda Orionis) is above the horizon from Greenwich, United Kingdom [change]. Altitude: 5°.

Celestial coordinates and finder chart of Meissa

Meissa 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 Meissa are provided in the following table:

Right Ascension J2000 05h 35m 08s

Declination J2000 +09° 56’ 03”

Galactic Longitude 195.05°

Galactic Latitude -12°

Constellation Orion

The simplified sky map below shows the position of Meissa in the sky:

Finder chart Meissa - λ Orionis (lambda Orionis) star

Simplified finder chart for Meissa - λ Orionis (lambda Orionis).

Visibility of Meissa from your location

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

Today's Meissa - λ Orionis (lambda Orionis) rise, transit and set times from Greenwich, United Kingdom [change] are the following (all times relative to the local timezone Europe/London):

Azimuth: 80.1° RISE 11:27

Max altitude: 48.5° TRANSIT 18:15

Azimuth: 279.9° SET 1:08

RIGHT NOW Meissa - λ Orionis (lambda Orionis) is above the horizon from Greenwich, United Kingdom

Digitized Sky Survey image of Meissa

The image below is a photograph of Meissa 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 Meissa is 0 arcsec per year in Right Ascension and -0.006 arcsec per year in Declination and the associated displacement for the next 100000 years is represented with the red arrow.

Image of Meissa - λ Orionis (lambda Orionis) star

DSS2 image of Meissa. The red arrow shows the motion of Meissa during the next 100000 years (0.00 arcmin in Right Ascension and -10.00 arcmin in declination);

Distance of Meissa from the Sun and relative movement

Meissa is distant 1,055.02 light years from the Sun and it is moving far from the Sun at the speed of 34 kilometers per second.

Distance (parsec) 323.62 pc

Distance (light year) 1,055.02 ly

Heliocentric radial velocity 34 km/s

Proper Motion Dec -0.006 arcsec/year

Spectral properties of Meissa

Meissa belongs to spectral class O8 and has a luminosity class of III corresponding to a giant star.

Absolute magnitude -4.01

Spectral Type O8III

Color Index (B-V) -0.18

Temperature of Meissa 13121K

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

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

Meissa star system properties

Meissa 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 Meissa double sysyem:

Main star magnitude 3.54

Secondary star magnitude 5.54

Magnitude difference 2

Separation 4.4 arcsec

Alternative designations of Meissa

Proper Name Meissa

Bayer designation λ Orionis
(lambda Orionis)

Flamsteed designation 39 Orionis

Henry Draper Catalogue HD36861

SAO Catalogue SAO112921

Hipparcos Catalogue HIP26207

Durchmusterung Catalogue BD+09 879

General Catalogue of Variable Stars 2240

Aitken Double Star Catalogue ADS4179

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Other stars in Orion