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Zaurak - γ Eridani (gamma Eridani)

Zaurak, also designated as γ Eridani (gamma Eridani), is a variable and double hypergiant star in the constellation of Eridanus.

Zaurak visual magnitude is 2.95. Thanks to its high brightness, Zaurak is clearly visible when observed from locations with dark skyes, and should be also quite easily visible from light polluted areas.

The table below summarizes the key facts about Zaurak:

Color of Zaurak ⬤

Magnitude of Zaurak 2.95

Class Hypergiant

VISIBILITY RIGHT NOW Zaurak - γ Eridani (gamma Eridani) is below the horizon from Greenwich, United Kingdom edit_location_alt.

Celestial coordinates and finder chart of Zaurak

Zaurak 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 Zaurak are provided in the following table:

Right Ascension J2000 03h 58m 01s

Declination J2000 -13° 30’ 30”

Galactic Longitude 205.16°

Galactic Latitude -44.47°

Constellation Eridanus

The simplified sky map below shows the position of Zaurak in the sky:

Finder chart Zaurak - γ Eridani (gamma Eridani) star

Simplified finder chart for Zaurak - γ Eridani (gamma Eridani).

Visibility of Zaurak 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 Zaurak - γ Eridani (gamma Eridani) 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: 103.5° RISE 7:42

Max altitude: 25.0° TRANSIT 12:31

Azimuth: 256.5° SET 17:19

RIGHT NOW Zaurak - γ Eridani (gamma Eridani) is below the horizon from Greenwich, United Kingdom

Digitized Sky Survey image of Zaurak

The image below is a photograph of Zaurak 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 Zaurak is 0.061 arcsec per year in Right Ascension and -0.111 arcsec per year in Declination and the associated displacement for the next 1000 years is represented with the red arrow.

Image of Zaurak - γ Eridani (gamma Eridani) star

DSS2 image of Zaurak. The red arrow shows the motion of Zaurak during the next 1000 years (1.02 arcmin in Right Ascension and -1.85 arcmin in declination);

Distance of Zaurak from the Sun and relative movement

Zaurak is distant 221.02 light years from the Sun and it is moving far from the Sun at the speed of 62 kilometers per second.

Distance (parsec) 67.80 pc

Distance (light year) 221.02 ly

Heliocentric radial velocity 62 km/s

Proper Motion RA 0.061 arcsec/year

Proper Motion Dec -0.111 arcsec/year

Spectral properties of Zaurak

Zaurak belongs to spectral class M0 and has a luminosity class of III corresponding to a hypergiant star.

Absolute magnitude -1.21

Spectral Type M0III

Color Index (B-V) 1.59

Temperature of Zaurak 3663K

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

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

Zaurak star system properties

Zaurak 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 Zaurak double sysyem:

Main star magnitude 2.95

Secondary star magnitude 12.45

Magnitude difference 9.5

Separation 52.8 arcsec

Alternative designations of Zaurak

Proper Name Zaurak

Bayer designation γ Eridani
(gamma Eridani)

Flamsteed designation 34 Eridani

Henry Draper Catalogue HD25025

SAO Catalogue SAO149283

Hipparcos Catalogue HIP18543

Durchmusterung Catalogue BD-13 781

FK5 Catalogue 149

General Catalogue of Variable Stars Gam Eri

Aitken Double Star Catalogue ADS2904

In Evidence

Other stars in Eridanus