Yellow main-sequence star · Canes Venatici

Chara

Also known as: β Canum Venaticorum (β CVn), HIP 61317

mag 4.228 light-years

About

Chara (β Canum Venaticorum) is a yellow main-sequence star of magnitude 4.2 in Canes Venatici, about 28 light-years away.

Chara is in the constellation Canes Venatici.
Best evenings: around mid-May 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 39° 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	Chara
Designation	β Canum Venaticorum (β CVn)
Hipparcos number	HIP 61317
Type	Yellow main-sequence star
Spectral type	G0V
Colour	YellowB−V colour index 0.59
Magnitude	4.2The smaller the number, the brighter.
Distance	28 light-yearsThe light you see left it around 1998.
Proper motion	0.76″ per year across the sky
Constellation	Canes Venatici
Right ascension (J2000)	12h 33m 44.7s
Declination (J2000)	+41° 21′ 27″