White giant · Eridanus

Cursa

Also known as: β Eridani (β Eri), HIP 23875

mag 2.889 light-years

About

Cursa (β Eridani) is a white giant of magnitude 2.8 in Eridanus, about 89 light-years away.

Cursa is in the constellation Eridanus.
Best evenings: around late January 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 75° 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.

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	Cursa
Designation	β Eridani (β Eri)
Hipparcos number	HIP 23875
Type	White giant
Spectral type	A3IIIvar
Colour	Yellowish whiteB−V colour index 0.16
Magnitude	2.8The smaller the number, the brighter.
Distance	89 light-yearsThe light you see left it around 1937.
Proper motion	0.11″ per year across the sky
Constellation	Eridanus
Right ascension (J2000)	05h 07m 51.0s
Declination (J2000)	−05° 05′ 11″

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