Orange giant · Ursa Major

Alula Borealis

Also known as: ν Ursae Majoris (ν UMa), HIP 55219

mag 3.5400 light-years

About

Alula Borealis (ν Ursae Majoris) is an orange giant of magnitude 3.5 in Ursa Major, about 400 light-years away.

Alula Borealis is in the constellation Ursa Major.
Best evenings: around late 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 47° 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	Alula Borealis
Designation	ν Ursae Majoris (ν UMa)
Hipparcos number	HIP 55219
Type	Orange giant
Spectral type	K3III SB
Colour	OrangeB−V colour index 1.40
Magnitude	3.5The smaller the number, the brighter.
Distance	400 light-yearsThe light you see left it around 1630.
Proper motion	0.038″ per year across the sky
Constellation	Ursa Major
Right ascension (J2000)	11h 18m 28.7s
Declination (J2000)	+33° 05′ 39″