σ Puppis (sigma Puppis)

σ Puppis is a double giant star in the constellation of Puppis.

σ Puppis visual magnitude is 3.25. Because of its moderate brightness, σ Puppis 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 Puppis:

Color of σ Puppis ⬤

Magnitude of σ Puppis 3.25

Class Giant

VISIBILITY RIGHT NOW σ Puppis (sigma Puppis) is below the horizon from Greenwich, United Kingdom [change].

Celestial coordinates and finder chart of σ Puppis

σ Puppis is situated south of the celestial equator, as such, it is more easily visible from the southern emisphere. Celestial coordinates for the J2000 equinox as well as galactic coordinates of σ Puppis are provided in the following table:

Right Ascension J2000 07h 29m 13s

Declination J2000 -43° 18’ 05”

Galactic Longitude 255.74°

Galactic Latitude -11.91°

Constellation Puppis

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

Finder chart σ Puppis (sigma Puppis) star

Simplified finder chart for σ Puppis (sigma Puppis).

Visibility of σ Puppis from your location

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

σ Puppis (sigma Puppis) is currently not visible from Greenwich, United Kingdom [change]

Digitized Sky Survey image of σ Puppis

The image below is a photograph of σ Puppis 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 Puppis is -0.055 arcsec per year in Right Ascension and 0.187 arcsec per year in Declination and the associated displacement for the next 1000 years is represented with the red arrow.

DSS2 image of σ Puppis. The red arrow shows the motion of σ Puppis during the next 1000 years (-0.92 arcmin in Right Ascension and 3.12 arcmin in declination);

Distance of σ Puppis from the Sun and relative movement

σ Puppis is distant 183.77 light years from the Sun and it is moving far from the Sun at the speed of 88 kilometers per second.

Distance (parsec) 56.37 pc

Distance (light year) 183.77 ly

Heliocentric radial velocity 88 km/s

Proper Motion RA -0.055 arcsec/year

Proper Motion Dec 0.187 arcsec/year

Spectral properties of σ Puppis

σ Puppis belongs to spectral class K5 and has a luminosity class of III corresponding to a giant star.

Absolute magnitude -0.51

Spectral Type K5III

Color Index (B-V) 1.51

Temperature of σ Puppis 3779K

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

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

σ Puppis star system properties

σ Puppis 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 σ Puppis double sysyem:

Main star magnitude 3.25

Secondary star magnitude 8.55

Magnitude difference 5.3

Separation 22.3 arcsec

Alternative designations of σ Puppis

Bayer designation σ Puppis
(sigma Puppis)

Henry Draper Catalogue HD59717

SAO Catalogue SAO218755

Hipparcos Catalogue HIP36377

Durchmusterung Catalogue CD-43 3260

FK5 Catalogue 1194

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In Evidence

Other stars in Puppis