Yellow-white giant · Leo

Adhafera

Also known as: ζ Leonis (ζ Leo), HIP 50335

mag 3.4270 light-years

About

Adhafera (ζ Leonis) is a yellow-white giant of magnitude 3.4 in Leo, about 270 light-years away.

Adhafera is in the constellation Leo.
Best evenings: around mid-April 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 57° S.
Star patterns: Sickle of Leo.

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	Adhafera
Designation	ζ Leonis (ζ Leo)
Hipparcos number	HIP 50335
Type	Yellow-white giant
Spectral type	F0III
Colour	Yellowish whiteB−V colour index 0.31
Magnitude	3.4The smaller the number, the brighter.
Distance	270 light-yearsThe light you see left it around 1750.
Proper motion	0.021″ per year across the sky
Constellation	Leo
Right ascension (J2000)	10h 16m 41.4s
Declination (J2000)	+23° 25′ 02″