Orange giant · Virgo

Kang

Also known as: κ Virginis (κ Vir), HIP 69427

mag 4.2260 light-years

About

Kang (κ Virginis) is an orange giant of magnitude 4.2 in Virgo, about 260 light-years away.

Kang is in the constellation Virgo.
Best evenings: around early 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 70° 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.

EyesVisible from the suburbs on a clear night, but lost in bright city skies.
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	Kang
Designation	κ Virginis (κ Vir)
Hipparcos number	HIP 69427
Type	Orange giant
Spectral type	K3III
Colour	OrangeB−V colour index 1.32
Magnitude	4.2The smaller the number, the brighter.
Distance	260 light-yearsThe light you see left it around 1770.
Proper motion	0.14″ per year across the sky
Constellation	Virgo
Right ascension (J2000)	14h 12m 53.7s
Declination (J2000)	−10° 16′ 25″