White star · Pisces

Alrescha

Also known as: α Piscium (α Psc), HIP 9487

mag 3.8150 light-years

About

Alrescha (α Piscium) is a white star of magnitude 3.8 in Pisces, about 150 light-years away.

Alrescha is in the constellation Pisces.
Best evenings: around early December 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 77° 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	Alrescha
Designation	α Piscium (α Psc)
Hipparcos number	HIP 9487
Type	White star
Spectral type	A2
Colour	WhiteB−V colour index 0.02
Magnitude	3.8The smaller the number, the brighter.
Distance	150 light-yearsThe light you see left it around 1880.
Proper motion	0.033″ per year across the sky
Constellation	Pisces
Right ascension (J2000)	02h 02m 02.8s
Declination (J2000)	+02° 45′ 50″