Red giant · Virgo

Minelauva

Also known as: δ Virginis (δ Vir), HIP 63090

mag 3.4200 light-years

About

Minelauva (δ Virginis) is a red giant of magnitude 3.4 in Virgo, about 200 light-years away.

Minelauva is in the constellation Virgo.
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 77° 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.

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	Minelauva
Designation	δ Virginis (δ Vir)
Hipparcos number	HIP 63090
Type	Red giant
Spectral type	M3III
Colour	Orange-redB−V colour index 1.57
Magnitude	3.4The smaller the number, the brighter.
Distance	200 light-yearsThe light you see left it around 1830.
Proper motion	0.47″ per year across the sky
Constellation	Virgo
Right ascension (J2000)	12h 55m 36.2s
Declination (J2000)	+03° 23′ 51″