Orange giant · Ursa Major

Taiyangshou

Also known as: χ Ursae Majoris (χ UMa), HIP 57399

mag 3.7180 light-years

About

Taiyangshou (χ Ursae Majoris) is an orange giant of magnitude 3.7 in Ursa Major, about 180 light-years away.

Taiyangshou is in the constellation Ursa Major.
Best evenings: around early 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 32° 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	Taiyangshou
Designation	χ Ursae Majoris (χ UMa)
Hipparcos number	HIP 57399
Type	Orange giant
Spectral type	K0III
Colour	Pale orangeB−V colour index 1.18
Magnitude	3.7The smaller the number, the brighter.
Distance	180 light-yearsThe light you see left it around 1840.
Proper motion	0.14″ per year across the sky
Constellation	Ursa Major
Right ascension (J2000)	11h 46m 03.0s
Declination (J2000)	+47° 46′ 46″