White star · Cancer

Acubens

Also known as: α Cancri (α Cnc), HIP 44066

mag 4.3190 light-years

About

Acubens (α Cancri) is a white star of magnitude 4.3 in Cancer, about 190 light-years away.

Acubens is in the constellation Cancer.
Best evenings: around late March it is highest at about 9 pm (10 pm in summer time); a month earlier, two hours later.
Where on Earth: it is seen well, at least 10° up, from north of 68° S.

When it rises and sets tonight, how high it climbs and how much the Moon gets in the way are worked out in your browser for your place.

EyesVisible from the suburbs on a clear night, but lost in bright city skies.
Binoculars (10×50)A sharp point; binoculars bring out its colour and the fainter stars around it.
Telescope (6–8 inch)Still a point of light at any magnification — stars are too far away to show a disc. Low in the sky, bright stars twinkle and flash colours.

Stars look the same in any instrument: brighter and sharper, but never bigger.

Proper name	Acubens
Designation	α Cancri (α Cnc)
Hipparcos number	HIP 44066
Type	White star
Spectral type	A5m
Colour	WhiteB−V colour index 0.14
Magnitude	4.3The smaller the number, the brighter.
Distance	190 light-yearsThe light you see left it around 1840.
Proper motion	0.051″ per year across the sky
Constellation	Cancer
Right ascension (J2000)	08h 58m 29.2s
Declination (J2000)	+11° 51′ 28″