ξ Aurigae (xi Aurigae)

ξ Aurigae is a main-sequence star in the constellation of Auriga.

ξ Aurigae visual magnitude is 4.99. Because of its moderate brightness, ξ Aurigae 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 ξ Aurigae:

Color of ξ Aurigae ⬤

Magnitude of ξ Aurigae 4.99

Class Main-sequence

VISIBILITY RIGHT NOW ξ Aurigae (xi Aurigae) is above the horizon from Greenwich, United Kingdom [change]. Altitude: 22°.

Celestial coordinates and finder chart of ξ Aurigae

ξ Aurigae is situated north of the celestial equator, as such, it is more easily visible from the northern hemisphere. Celestial coordinates for the J2000 equinox as well as galactic coordinates of ξ Aurigae are provided in the following table:

Right Ascension J2000 05h 54m 50s

Declination J2000 +55° 42’ 24”

Galactic Longitude 157.33°

Galactic Latitude 14.72°

Constellation Auriga

The simplified sky map below shows the position of ξ Aurigae in the sky:

Finder chart ξ Aurigae (xi Aurigae) star

Simplified finder chart for ξ Aurigae (xi Aurigae).

Visibility of ξ Aurigae from your location

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

ξ Aurigae (xi Aurigae) is circumpolar and transits at 17:39 UTC (altitude: 85.8°)

Digitized Sky Survey image of ξ Aurigae

The image below is a photograph of ξ Aurigae 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 ξ Aurigae is -0.013 arcsec per year in Right Ascension and 0.02 arcsec per year in Declination and the associated displacement for the next 10000 years is represented with the red arrow.

DSS2 image of ξ Aurigae. The red arrow shows the motion of ξ Aurigae during the next 10000 years (-2.17 arcmin in Right Ascension and 3.33 arcmin in declination);

Distance of ξ Aurigae from the Sun and relative movement

ξ Aurigae is distant 240.77 light years from the Sun and it is moving towards the Sun at the speed of 12 kilometers per second.

Distance (parsec) 73.86 pc

Distance (light year) 240.77 ly

Heliocentric radial velocity -12 km/s

Proper Motion RA -0.013 arcsec/year

Proper Motion Dec 0.02 arcsec/year

Spectral properties of ξ Aurigae

ξ Aurigae belongs to spectral class A2 and has a luminosity class of V corresponding to a main-sequence star.

Absolute magnitude 0.65

Spectral Type A2V

Color Index (B-V) 0.05

Temperature of ξ Aurigae 9542K

The red dot in the diagram below shows where ξ Aurigae is situated in the Hertzsprung–Russell diagram.

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

Alternative designations of ξ Aurigae

Bayer designation ξ Aurigae
(xi Aurigae)

Flamsteed designation 30 Aurigae

Henry Draper Catalogue HD39283

SAO Catalogue SAO25450

Hipparcos Catalogue HIP27949

Durchmusterung Catalogue BD+55 1027

FK5 Catalogue 1157

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Other stars in Auriga