σ Centauri (sigma Centauri)

σ Centauri is a main-sequence star in the constellation of Centaurus.

σ Centauri visual magnitude is 3.91. Because of its moderate brightness, σ Centauri 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 σ Centauri:

Color of σ Centauri ⬤

Magnitude of σ Centauri 3.91

Class Main-sequence

VISIBILITY RIGHT NOW σ Centauri (sigma Centauri) is below the horizon from Greenwich, United Kingdom edit_location_alt.

Celestial coordinates and finder chart of σ Centauri

σ Centauri 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 σ Centauri are provided in the following table:

Right Ascension J2000 12h 28m 02s

Declination J2000 -50° 13’ 50”

Galactic Longitude 299.1°

Galactic Latitude 12.47°

Constellation Centaurus

The simplified sky map below shows the position of σ Centauri in the sky:

Finder chart σ Centauri (sigma Centauri) star

Simplified finder chart for σ Centauri (sigma Centauri).

Visibility of σ Centauri from your location

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

σ Centauri (sigma Centauri) is currently not visible from Greenwich, United Kingdom edit_location_alt

Digitized Sky Survey image of σ Centauri

The image below is a photograph of σ Centauri 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 σ Centauri is -0.03 arcsec per year in Right Ascension and -0.015 arcsec per year in Declination and the associated displacement for the next 10000 years is represented with the red arrow.

Image of σ Centauri (sigma Centauri) star

DSS2 image of σ Centauri. The red arrow shows the motion of σ Centauri during the next 10000 years (-5.00 arcmin in Right Ascension and -2.50 arcmin in declination);

Distance of σ Centauri from the Sun and relative movement

σ Centauri is distant 442.93 light years from the Sun and it is moving far from the Sun at the speed of 8 kilometers per second.

Distance (parsec) 135.87 pc

Distance (light year) 442.93 ly

Heliocentric radial velocity 8 km/s

Proper Motion RA -0.03 arcsec/year

Proper Motion Dec -0.015 arcsec/year

Spectral properties of σ Centauri

σ Centauri belongs to spectral class B2 and has a luminosity class of V corresponding to a main-sequence star.

Absolute magnitude -1.76

Spectral Type B2V

Color Index (B-V) -0.19

Temperature of σ Centauri 13348K

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

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

Alternative designations of σ Centauri

Bayer designation σ Centauri
(sigma Centauri)

Henry Draper Catalogue HD108483

SAO Catalogue SAO223454

Hipparcos Catalogue HIP60823

Durchmusterung Catalogue CD-49 7115

FK5 Catalogue 464

In Evidence

Other stars in Centaurus