Orange giant · Lynx

Alsciaukat

Also known as: 31 Lyncis (31 Lyn), HIP 41075

mag 4.3380 light-years

About

Alsciaukat (31 Lyncis) is an orange giant of magnitude 4.3 in Lynx, about 380 light-years away.

Alsciaukat is in the constellation Lynx.
Best evenings: around mid-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 37° 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	Alsciaukat
Designation	31 Lyncis (31 Lyn)
Hipparcos number	HIP 41075
Type	Orange giant
Spectral type	K5III
Colour	Orange-redB−V colour index 1.55
Magnitude	4.3The smaller the number, the brighter.
Distance	380 light-yearsThe light you see left it around 1640.
Proper motion	0.10″ per year across the sky
Constellation	Lynx
Right ascension (J2000)	08h 22m 50.1s
Declination (J2000)	+43° 11′ 17″

Star data: HYG Database by David Nash, CC BY-SA 4.0. All data sources →