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Mintaka - δ Orionis (delta Orionis)

Mintaka, also designated as δ Orionis (delta Orionis), is a variable and multiple bright giant star in the constellation of Orion.

Mintaka visual magnitude is 2.23, making it the 68th brightest star in the sky. Thanks to its high brightness, Mintaka 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 Mintaka:

Color of Mintaka ⬤

Magnitude of Mintaka 2.23

Class Bright giant

VISIBILITY RIGHT NOW Mintaka - δ Orionis (delta Orionis) is below the horizon from Greenwich, United Kingdom [change].

Celestial coordinates and finder chart of Mintaka

Mintaka 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 Mintaka are provided in the following table:

Right Ascension J2000 05h 32m 00s

Declination J2000 -00° 17’ 57”

Galactic Longitude 203.86°

Galactic Latitude -17.74°

Constellation Orion

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

Finder chart Mintaka - δ Orionis (delta Orionis) star

Simplified finder chart for Mintaka - δ Orionis (delta Orionis).

Visibility of Mintaka from your location

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

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

Azimuth: 90.3° RISE 11:39

Max altitude: 38.2° TRANSIT 17:36

Azimuth: 269.7° SET 23:32

RIGHT NOW Mintaka - δ Orionis (delta Orionis) is below the horizon from Greenwich, United Kingdom

Digitized Sky Survey image of Mintaka

The image below is a photograph of Mintaka 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 Mintaka is 0.001 arcsec per year in Right Ascension and -0.002 arcsec per year in Declination and the associated displacement for the next 100000 years is represented with the red arrow.

Image of Mintaka - δ Orionis (delta Orionis) star

DSS2 image of Mintaka. The red arrow shows the motion of Mintaka during the next 100000 years (1.67 arcmin in Right Ascension and -3.33 arcmin in declination);

Distance of Mintaka from the Sun and relative movement

Mintaka is distant 915.73 light years from the Sun and it is moving far from the Sun at the speed of 16 kilometers per second.

Distance (parsec) 280.90 pc

Distance (light year) 915.73 ly

Heliocentric radial velocity 16 km/s

Proper Motion RA 0.001 arcsec/year

Proper Motion Dec -0.002 arcsec/year

Spectral properties of Mintaka

Mintaka belongs to spectral class O9 and has a luminosity class of II corresponding to a bright giant star.

Absolute magnitude -5.01

Spectral Type O9II

Color Index (B-V) -0.22

Temperature of Mintaka 14087K

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

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

Mintaka star system properties

Mintaka 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 Mintaka double sysyem:

Main star magnitude 2.23

Secondary star magnitude 6.83

Magnitude difference 4.6

Separation 51.7 arcsec

Alternative designations of Mintaka

Proper Name Mintaka

Bayer designation δ Orionis
(delta Orionis)

Flamsteed designation 34 Orionis

Henry Draper Catalogue HD36486

SAO Catalogue SAO132220

Hipparcos Catalogue HIP25930

Durchmusterung Catalogue BD-00 983

FK5 Catalogue 206

General Catalogue of Variable Stars Del Ori

Aitken Double Star Catalogue ADS4134

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