Yellow giant · Virgo

Vindemiatrix

Also known as: ε Virginis (ε Vir), HIP 63608

mag 2.9110 light-years

About

Vindemiatrix (ε Virginis) is a yellow giant of magnitude 2.9 in Virgo, about 110 light-years away.

Vindemiatrix is in the constellation Virgo.
Best evenings: around late 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 69° 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.

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	Vindemiatrix
Designation	ε Virginis (ε Vir)
Hipparcos number	HIP 63608
Type	Yellow giant
Spectral type	G8IIIvar
Colour	Pale orangeB−V colour index 0.93
Magnitude	2.9The smaller the number, the brighter.
Distance	110 light-yearsThe light you see left it around 1920.
Proper motion	0.28″ per year across the sky
Constellation	Virgo
Right ascension (J2000)	13h 02m 10.6s
Declination (J2000)	+10° 57′ 33″