Orange bright giant · Auriga

Saclateni

Also known as: ζ Aurigae (ζ Aur), HIP 23453

mag 3.7790 light-years

About

Saclateni (ζ Aurigae) is an orange bright giant of magnitude 3.7 in Auriga, about 790 light-years away.

Saclateni is in the constellation Auriga.
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 north of 39° 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	Saclateni
Designation	ζ Aurigae (ζ Aur)
Hipparcos number	HIP 23453
Type	Orange bright giant
Spectral type	K4II comp
Colour	Pale orangeB−V colour index 1.15
Magnitude	3.7The smaller the number, the brighter.
Distance	790 light-yearsThe light you see left it around 1240.
Proper motion	0.023″ per year across the sky
Constellation	Auriga
Right ascension (J2000)	05h 02m 28.7s
Declination (J2000)	+41° 04′ 33″