Yellow main-sequence star · Centaurus

Rigil Kentaurus

Also known as: α¹ Centauri (α¹ Cen), HIP 71683

mag 0.04 light-years

About

Rigil Kentaurus (α¹ Centauri) is a yellow main-sequence star of magnitude 0.0 in Centaurus, about 4 light-years away.

Rigil Kentaurus is in the constellation Centaurus.
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 19° N.
Star patterns: Southern Cross and the Pointers.
Southern Cross and the Pointers: The nearest star system to the Sun; a small telescope splits it into a yellow and an orange star.

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.

EyesOne of the brightest stars in the whole sky — easy even from a city centre.
Binoculars (10×50)Dazzling, with its colour stronger than to the eye.
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	Rigil Kentaurus
Designation	α¹ Centauri (α¹ Cen)
Hipparcos number	HIP 71683
Type	Yellow main-sequence star
Spectral type	G2V
Colour	YellowB−V colour index 0.71
Magnitude	0.0The smaller the number, the brighter.
Distance	4 light-yearsThe light you see left it around 2022.
Proper motion	3.71″ per year across the sky
Constellation	Centaurus
Right ascension (J2000)	14h 39m 38.8s
Declination (J2000)	−60° 50′ 02″