Yellow giant · Virgo

Elgafar

Also known as: φ Virginis (φ Vir), HIP 70755

mag 4.8120 light-years

About

Elgafar (φ Virginis) is a yellow giant of magnitude 4.8 in Virgo, about 120 light-years away.

Elgafar is in the constellation Virgo.
Best evenings: around mid-June 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 78° 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.

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	Elgafar
Designation	φ Virginis (φ Vir)
Hipparcos number	HIP 70755
Type	Yellow giant
Spectral type	G2III
Colour	YellowB−V colour index 0.69
Magnitude	4.8The smaller the number, the brighter.
Distance	120 light-yearsThe light you see left it around 1910.
Proper motion	0.14″ per year across the sky
Constellation	Virgo
Right ascension (J2000)	14h 28m 12.1s
Declination (J2000)	−02° 13′ 41″