White main-sequence star · Serpens

Alya B

Also known as: θ² Serpentis (θ² Ser), HIP 92951

mag 5.0170 light-years

About

Alya B (θ² Serpentis) is a white main-sequence star of magnitude 5.0 in Serpens, about 170 light-years away.

How to find it

  • Alya B is in the constellation Serpens.
  • Best evenings: around mid-August 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 76° S.

Show on sky map →

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.

What you will see

  • EyesNeeds a dark sky away from city lights.
  • 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.

Facts

Proper nameAlya B
Designationθ² Serpentis (θ² Ser)
Hipparcos numberHIP 92951
TypeWhite main-sequence star
Spectral typeA5Vn
ColourYellowish whiteB−V colour index 0.20
Magnitude5.0The smaller the number, the brighter.
Distance170 light-yearsThe light you see left it around 1860.
Proper motion0.061″ per year across the sky
ConstellationSerpens
Right ascension (J2000)18h 56m 14.6s
Declination (J2000)+04° 12′ 08″

More in Serpens

Sources and credits

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