Red giant · Ursa Major

Tania Australis

Also known as: μ Ursae Majoris (μ UMa), HIP 50801

mag 3.1230 light-years

About

Tania Australis (μ Ursae Majoris) is a red giant of magnitude 3.1 in Ursa Major, about 230 light-years away.

Tania Australis is in the constellation Ursa Major.
Best evenings: around mid-April 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	Tania Australis
Designation	μ Ursae Majoris (μ UMa)
Hipparcos number	HIP 50801
Type	Red giant
Spectral type	M0III SB
Colour	Orange-redB−V colour index 1.60
Magnitude	3.1The smaller the number, the brighter.
Distance	230 light-yearsThe light you see left it around 1800.
Proper motion	0.087″ per year across the sky
Constellation	Ursa Major
Right ascension (J2000)	10h 22m 19.8s
Declination (J2000)	+41° 29′ 58″