Blue-white giant · Grus

Aldhanab

Also known as: γ Gruis (γ Gru), HIP 108085

mag 3.0210 light-years

About

Aldhanab (γ Gruis) is a blue-white giant of magnitude 3.0 in Grus, about 210 light-years away.

Aldhanab is in the constellation Grus.
Best evenings: around early October 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 south of 43° N.

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	Aldhanab
Designation	γ Gruis (γ Gru)
Hipparcos number	HIP 108085
Type	Blue-white giant
Spectral type	B8III
Colour	WhiteB−V colour index −0.08
Magnitude	3.0The smaller the number, the brighter.
Distance	210 light-yearsThe light you see left it around 1820.
Proper motion	0.097″ per year across the sky
Constellation	Grus
Right ascension (J2000)	21h 53m 55.7s
Declination (J2000)	−37° 21′ 54″