σ Virginis (sigma Virginis)

Altitude: 6.7° Azimuth: 270.3° Direction: West

σ Virginis is a variable giant star in the constellation of Virgo.

σ Virginis visual magnitude is 4.8. Because of its moderate brightness, σ 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 σ Virginis:

Color of σ Virginis ⬤

Magnitude of σ Virginis 4.8

Class Giant

VISIBILITY RIGHT NOW

σ Virginis (sigma Virginis) is above the horizon from Greenwich, United Kingdom edit_location_alt.

Altitude: 6.7°
Azimuth: 270.3°
Direction: West

Celestial coordinates and finder chart of σ Virginis

σ 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 σ Virginis are provided in the following table:

Right Ascension J2000 13h 17m 36s

Declination J2000 +05° 28’ 10”

Galactic Longitude 320.14°

Galactic Latitude 67.46°

Constellation Virgo

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

Finder chart σ Virginis (sigma Virginis) star

Simplified finder chart for σ Virginis (sigma Virginis).

Visibility of σ 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 σ Virginis (sigma 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: 84.5° RISE 2:08

Max altitude: 44.0° TRANSIT 8:33

Azimuth: 275.5° SET 14:59

Digitized Sky Survey image of σ Virginis

The image below is a photograph of σ 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 σ Virginis is -0.005 arcsec per year in Right Ascension and 0.013 arcsec per year in Declination and the associated displacement for the next 10000 years is represented with the red arrow.

Image of σ Virginis (sigma Virginis) star

DSS2 image of σ Virginis. The red arrow shows the motion of σ Virginis during the next 10000 years (-0.83 arcmin in Right Ascension and 2.17 arcmin in declination);

Distance of σ Virginis from the Sun and relative movement

σ Virginis is distant 540.63 light years from the Sun and it is moving towards the Sun at the speed of 27 kilometers per second.

Distance (parsec) 165.84 pc

Distance (light year) 540.63 ly

Heliocentric radial velocity -27 km/s

Proper Motion RA -0.005 arcsec/year

Proper Motion Dec 0.013 arcsec/year

Spectral properties of σ Virginis

σ Virginis belongs to spectral class M1 and has a luminosity class of III corresponding to a giant star.

Absolute magnitude -1.30

Spectral Type M1III

Color Index (B-V) 1.67

Temperature of σ Virginis 3555K

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

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

Alternative designations of σ Virginis

Bayer designation σ Virginis
(sigma Virginis)

Flamsteed designation 60 Virginis

Henry Draper Catalogue HD115521

SAO Catalogue SAO119855

Hipparcos Catalogue HIP64852

Durchmusterung Catalogue BD+06 2722

FK5 Catalogue 1344

General Catalogue of Variable Stars 6173

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In Evidence

Other stars in Virgo