Yellow supergiant · Aquarius

Sadalmelik

Also known as: α Aquarii (α Aqr), HIP 109074

mag 3.0520 light-years

About

Sadalmelik (α Aquarii) is a yellow supergiant of magnitude 3.0 in Aquarius, about 520 light-years away.

Sadalmelik is in the constellation Aquarius.
Best evenings: around early October 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 80° 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.

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	Sadalmelik
Designation	α Aquarii (α Aqr)
Hipparcos number	HIP 109074
Type	Yellow supergiant
Spectral type	G2Ib
Colour	Pale orangeB−V colour index 0.97
Magnitude	3.0The smaller the number, the brighter.
Distance	520 light-yearsThe light you see left it around 1500.
Proper motion	0.020″ per year across the sky
Constellation	Aquarius
Right ascension (J2000)	22h 05m 47.0s
Declination (J2000)	−00° 19′ 12″