ρ Virginis (rho Virginis)

ρ Virginis is a variable hypergiant star in the constellation of Virgo.

ρ Virginis visual magnitude is 4.88. Because of its moderate brightness, ρ Virginis 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 ρ Virginis:

Color of ρ Virginis ⬤

Magnitude of ρ Virginis 4.88

Class Hypergiant

VISIBILITY RIGHT NOW ρ Virginis (rho Virginis) is above the horizon from Greenwich, United Kingdom edit_location_alt. Altitude: 4°.

Celestial coordinates and finder chart of ρ Virginis

ρ Virginis 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 ρ Virginis are provided in the following table:

Right Ascension J2000 12h 41m 53s

Declination J2000 +10° 14’ 08”

Galactic Longitude 294.88°

Galactic Latitude 72.96°

Constellation Virgo

The simplified sky map below shows the position of ρ Virginis in the sky:

Finder chart ρ Virginis (rho Virginis) star

Simplified finder chart for ρ Virginis (rho Virginis).

Visibility of ρ Virginis 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 ρ Virginis (rho Virginis) 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: 79.8° RISE 14:19

Max altitude: 48.8° TRANSIT 21:09

Azimuth: 280.2° SET 4:03

RIGHT NOW ρ Virginis (rho Virginis) is above the horizon from Greenwich, United Kingdom

Digitized Sky Survey image of ρ Virginis

The image below is a photograph of ρ Virginis 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 ρ Virginis is 0.084 arcsec per year in Right Ascension and -0.091 arcsec per year in Declination and the associated displacement for the next 1000 years is represented with the red arrow.

DSS2 image of ρ Virginis. The red arrow shows the motion of ρ Virginis during the next 1000 years (1.40 arcmin in Right Ascension and -1.52 arcmin in declination);

Distance of ρ Virginis from the Sun and relative movement

ρ Virginis is distant 120.30 light years from the Sun and it is moving far from the Sun at the speed of 2 kilometers per second.

Distance (parsec) 36.90 pc

Distance (light year) 120.30 ly

Heliocentric radial velocity 2 km/s

Proper Motion RA 0.084 arcsec/year

Proper Motion Dec -0.091 arcsec/year

Spectral properties of ρ Virginis

ρ Virginis belongs to spectral class A0 and has a luminosity class of V corresponding to a hypergiant star.

Absolute magnitude 2.04

Spectral Type A0V

Color Index (B-V) 0.09

Temperature of ρ Virginis 9125K

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

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

Alternative designations of ρ Virginis

Bayer designation ρ Virginis
(rho Virginis)

Flamsteed designation 30 Virginis

Henry Draper Catalogue HD110411

SAO Catalogue SAO100211

Hipparcos Catalogue HIP61960

Durchmusterung Catalogue BD+11 2485

FK5 Catalogue 1326

General Catalogue of Variable Stars Rho Vir

In Evidence

Other stars in Virgo