Blue giant · Orion

Hatysa

Also known as: ι Orionis (ι Ori), HIP 26241

mag 2.82,300 light-years

About

Hatysa (ι Orionis) is a blue giant of magnitude 2.8 in Orion, about 2,300 light-years away.

Hatysa is in the constellation Orion.
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 74° N.
Star patterns: Orion’s Belt and Sword.

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	Hatysa
Designation	ι Orionis (ι Ori)
Hipparcos number	HIP 26241
Type	Blue giant
Spectral type	O9III
Colour	Blue-whiteB−V colour index −0.21
Magnitude	2.8The smaller the number, the brighter.
Distance	2,300 light-yearsThe light you see left it around 300 BC. Distances this large are uncertain by 10% or more.
Proper motion	0.002″ per year across the sky
Constellation	Orion
Right ascension (J2000)	05h 35m 26.0s
Declination (J2000)	−05° 54′ 36″