τ Ursae Majoris (tau Ursae Majoris)

τ Ursae Majoris is a multiple giant star in the constellation of Ursa Major.

τ Ursae Majoris visual magnitude is 4.67. Because of its moderate brightness, τ Ursae Majoris 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 τ Ursae Majoris:

Color of τ Ursae Majoris ⬤

Magnitude of τ Ursae Majoris 4.67

Class Giant

VISIBILITY RIGHT NOW τ Ursae Majoris (tau Ursae Majoris) is above the horizon from Greenwich, United Kingdom [change]. Altitude: 25°.

Celestial coordinates and finder chart of τ Ursae Majoris

τ Ursae Majoris is situated close to the northern celestial pole and, as such, it is visible for most part of the year from the northern hemisphere. Celestial coordinates for the J2000 equinox as well as galactic coordinates of τ Ursae Majoris are provided in the following table:

Right Ascension J2000 09h 10m 55s

Declination J2000 +63° 30’ 48”

Galactic Longitude 151.21°

Galactic Latitude 39.42°

Constellation Ursa Major

The simplified sky map below shows the position of τ Ursae Majoris in the sky:

Finder chart τ Ursae Majoris (tau Ursae Majoris) star

Simplified finder chart for τ Ursae Majoris (tau Ursae Majoris).

Visibility of τ Ursae Majoris from your location

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

τ Ursae Majoris (tau Ursae Majoris) is circumpolar and transits at 20:27 UTC (altitude: 78.0°)

Digitized Sky Survey image of τ Ursae Majoris

The image below is a photograph of τ Ursae Majoris 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 τ Ursae Majoris is 0.098 arcsec per year in Right Ascension and -0.056 arcsec per year in Declination and the associated displacement for the next 1000 years is represented with the red arrow.

Image of τ Ursae Majoris (tau Ursae Majoris) star

DSS2 image of τ Ursae Majoris. The red arrow shows the motion of τ Ursae Majoris during the next 1000 years (1.63 arcmin in Right Ascension and -0.93 arcmin in declination);

Distance of τ Ursae Majoris from the Sun and relative movement

τ Ursae Majoris is distant 121.69 light years from the Sun and it is moving towards the Sun at the speed of 9 kilometers per second.

Distance (parsec) 37.33 pc

Distance (light year) 121.69 ly

Heliocentric radial velocity -9 km/s

Proper Motion RA 0.098 arcsec/year

Proper Motion Dec -0.056 arcsec/year

Spectral properties of τ Ursae Majoris

τ Ursae Majoris belongs to spectral class F3 and has a luminosity class of III corresponding to a giant star.

Absolute magnitude 1.81

Spectral Type F3III

Color Index (B-V) 0.35

Temperature of τ Ursae Majoris 7158K

The red dot in the diagram below shows where τ Ursae Majoris is situated in the Hertzsprung–Russell diagram.

H-R diagram showing the position of τ Ursae Majoris. Attribution: Richard Powell / CC BY-SA

τ Ursae Majoris star system properties

τ Ursae Majoris 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 τ Ursae Majoris double sysyem:

Main star magnitude 4.67

Secondary star magnitude 10.87

Magnitude difference 6.2

Separation 57.2 arcsec

Alternative designations of τ Ursae Majoris

Bayer designation τ Ursae Majoris
(tau Ursae Majoris)

Flamsteed designation 14 Ursae Majoris

Henry Draper Catalogue HD78362

SAO Catalogue SAO14796

Hipparcos Catalogue HIP45075

Durchmusterung Catalogue BD+64 723

FK5 Catalogue 2727

Aitken Double Star Catalogue ADS7211

How to support us

In Evidence

Other stars in Ursa Major