Yellow main-sequence star · Cancer

Copernicus

Also known as: ρ¹ Cancri (ρ¹ Cnc), HIP 43587

mag 6.040 light-years

About

Copernicus (ρ¹ Cancri) is a yellow main-sequence star of magnitude 6.0 in Cancer, about 40 light-years away.

Copernicus is in the constellation Cancer.
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 52° 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.

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.

Proper name	Copernicus
Designation	ρ¹ Cancri (ρ¹ Cnc)
Hipparcos number	HIP 43587
Type	Yellow main-sequence star
Spectral type	G8V
Colour	Pale orangeB−V colour index 0.87
Magnitude	6.0The smaller the number, the brighter.
Distance	40 light-yearsThe light you see left it around 1986.
Proper motion	0.54″ per year across the sky
Constellation	Cancer
Right ascension (J2000)	08h 52m 35.9s
Declination (J2000)	+28° 19′ 51″