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
Donate Now! Help keep this site free and ads-free!
public Observing fromLocation: Greenwich, United Kingdom edit_location_alt
SunriseRise: 6:04  
clear_day Transit: 12:06  
SunsetSet: 18:09
sleep NighttimeWhat's Visible Now?
All Constellations » Columba » 

Phact - α Columbae (alpha Columbae)

Altitude: -51.8°   Azimuth: 278.1°   Direction: West

Phact, also designated as α Columbae (alpha Columbae), is a variable and double sub-giant star in the constellation of Columba.

Phact visual magnitude is 2.64. Thanks to its high brightness, Phact is clearly visible when observed from locations with dark skies, and should be also quite easily visible from light polluted areas.

The proper motion of Phact is 0.007 arcsec per year in Right Ascension and -0.026 arcsec per year in Declination and the associated displacement for the next 10000 years is represented with the red arrow.

Image of Phact - α Columbae (alpha Columbae) star
DSS2 image of Phact. The red arrow shows the motion of Phact during the next 10000 years (1.17 arcmin in Right Ascension and -4.33 arcmin in declination);

Key facts about Phact

2.64
Sub-giant

Phact - α Columbae (alpha Columbae) is below the horizon from Greenwich, United Kingdom edit_location_alt.

Altitude: -51.8°
Azimuth: 278.1°
Direction: West

Celestial coordinates and finder chart of Phact

Phact 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 Phact are provided in the following table:

05h 39m 38s
-34° 04’ 27”
238.81°
-28.86°
Columba

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

Finder chart Phact - α Columbae (alpha Columbae) star
Simplified finder chart for Phact - α Columbae (alpha Columbae).

Visibility of Phact 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 Phact - α Columbae (alpha Columbae) 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: 124.1°
Max altitude: 4.4°
Azimuth: 235.9°

Distance of Phact from the Sun and relative movement

Phact is distant 268.09 light years from the Sun and it is moving far from the Sun at the speed of 35 kilometers per second.

82.24 pc
268.09 ly
35 km/s
0.007 arcsec/year
-0.026 arcsec/year

Spectral properties of Phact

Phact belongs to spectral class B7 and has a luminosity class of IV corresponding to a sub-giant star.

-1.94
B7IV
11920K

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

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

Phact star system properties

Phact 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 Phact double sysyem:

2.64
12.34
9.7
13.5 arcsec

Alternative designations of Phact

Phact
α Columbae
(alpha Columbae)
SAO196059
SAO196059