Yellow supergiant · Puppis

Azmidi

Also known as: ξ Puppis (ξ Pup), HIP 38170

mag 3.31,200 light-years

About

Azmidi (ξ Puppis) is a yellow supergiant of magnitude 3.3 in Puppis, about 1,200 light-years away.

Azmidi is in the constellation Puppis.
Best evenings: around early 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 south of 55° 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	Azmidi
Designation	ξ Puppis (ξ Pup)
Hipparcos number	HIP 38170
Type	Yellow supergiant
Spectral type	G6Ia
Colour	OrangeB−V colour index 1.22
Magnitude	3.3The smaller the number, the brighter.
Distance	1,200 light-yearsThe light you see left it around AD 800. Distances this large are uncertain by 10% or more.
Proper motion	0.006″ per year across the sky
Constellation	Puppis
Right ascension (J2000)	07h 49m 17.7s
Declination (J2000)	−24° 51′ 35″