White star · Canes Venatici

Cor Caroli

Also known as: α² Canum Venaticorum (α² CVn), HIP 63125

mag 2.9120 light-years

About

Cor Caroli (α² Canum Venaticorum) is a white star of magnitude 2.9 in Canes Venatici, about 120 light-years away.

Cor Caroli is in the constellation Canes Venatici.
Best evenings: around late 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 42° 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.

EyesEasy, even from town.
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	Cor Caroli
Designation	α² Canum Venaticorum (α² CVn)
Hipparcos number	HIP 63125
Type	White star
Spectral type	A0spe
Colour	Blue-whiteB−V colour index −0.12
Magnitude	2.9The smaller the number, the brighter.
Distance	120 light-yearsThe light you see left it around 1910.
Proper motion	0.24″ per year across the sky
Constellation	Canes Venatici
Right ascension (J2000)	12h 56m 01.7s
Declination (J2000)	+38° 19′ 06″