μ Ophiuchi (mu Ophiuchi)

μ Ophiuchi is a bright giant star in the constellation of Ophiuchus.

μ Ophiuchi visual magnitude is 4.62. Because of its moderate brightness, μ Ophiuchi 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 μ Ophiuchi:

Color of μ Ophiuchi ⬤

Magnitude of μ Ophiuchi 4.62

Class Bright giant

VISIBILITY RIGHT NOW μ Ophiuchi (mu Ophiuchi) is above the horizon from Greenwich, United Kingdom [change]. Altitude: 30°.

Celestial coordinates and finder chart of μ Ophiuchi

μ Ophiuchi 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 μ Ophiuchi are provided in the following table:

Right Ascension J2000 17h 37m 50s

Declination J2000 -08° 07’ 08”

Galactic Longitude 17°

Galactic Latitude 12.34°

Constellation Ophiuchus

The simplified sky map below shows the position of μ Ophiuchi in the sky:

Finder chart μ Ophiuchi (mu Ophiuchi) star

Simplified finder chart for μ Ophiuchi (mu Ophiuchi).

Visibility of μ Ophiuchi from your location

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

Today's μ Ophiuchi (mu Ophiuchi) rise, transit and set times from Greenwich, United Kingdom [change] are the following (all times relative to the local timezone Europe/London):

Azimuth: 98.1° RISE 0:26

Max altitude: 30.4° TRANSIT 5:43

Azimuth: 261.9° SET 11:00

RIGHT NOW μ Ophiuchi (mu Ophiuchi) is above the horizon from Greenwich, United Kingdom

Digitized Sky Survey image of μ Ophiuchi

The image below is a photograph of μ Ophiuchi 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 μ Ophiuchi is -0.009 arcsec per year in Right Ascension and -0.017 arcsec per year in Declination and the associated displacement for the next 10000 years is represented with the red arrow.

DSS2 image of μ Ophiuchi. The red arrow shows the motion of μ Ophiuchi during the next 10000 years (-1.50 arcmin in Right Ascension and -2.83 arcmin in declination);

Distance of μ Ophiuchi from the Sun and relative movement

μ Ophiuchi is distant 548.82 light years from the Sun and it is moving towards the Sun at the speed of 19 kilometers per second.

Distance (parsec) 168.35 pc

Distance (light year) 548.82 ly

Heliocentric radial velocity -19 km/s

Proper Motion RA -0.009 arcsec/year

Proper Motion Dec -0.017 arcsec/year

Spectral properties of μ Ophiuchi

μ Ophiuchi belongs to spectral class B8 and has a luminosity class of II corresponding to a bright giant star. μ Ophiuchi is also a Mn chemically peculiar star.

Absolute magnitude -1.51

Spectral Type B8II

Color Index (B-V) 0.11

Temperature of μ Ophiuchi 8932K

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

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

Alternative designations of μ Ophiuchi

Bayer designation μ Ophiuchi
(mu Ophiuchi)

Flamsteed designation 57 Ophiuchi

Henry Draper Catalogue HD159975

SAO Catalogue SAO141772

Hipparcos Catalogue HIP86284

Durchmusterung Catalogue BD-08 4472

FK5 Catalogue 3399

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Other stars in Ophiuchus