Orange supergiant · Vela

Suhail

Also known as: λ Velorum (λ Vel), HIP 44816

mag 2.2550 light-years

About

Suhail (λ Velorum) is an orange supergiant of magnitude 2.2 in Vela, about 550 light-years away.

Suhail is in the constellation Vela.
Best evenings: around late March 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 37° 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. Its orange-red tint is plain to see.
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	Suhail
Designation	λ Velorum (λ Vel)
Hipparcos number	HIP 44816
Type	Orange supergiant
Spectral type	K4Ib-II
Colour	Orange-redB−V colour index 1.67
Magnitude	2.2The smaller the number, the brighter.
Distance	550 light-yearsThe light you see left it around 1480.
Proper motion	0.027″ per year across the sky
Constellation	Vela
Right ascension (J2000)	09h 07m 59.8s
Declination (J2000)	−43° 25′ 57″