Red giant · Eridanus

Zaurak

Also known as: γ Eridani (γ Eri), HIP 18543

mag 3.0200 light-years

About

Zaurak (γ Eridani) is a red giant of magnitude 3.0 in Eridanus, about 200 light-years away.

Zaurak is in the constellation Eridanus.
Best evenings: around early January 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 66° 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	Zaurak
Designation	γ Eridani (γ Eri)
Hipparcos number	HIP 18543
Type	Red giant
Spectral type	M1IIIb Ca-1
Colour	Orange-redB−V colour index 1.59
Magnitude	3.0The smaller the number, the brighter.
Distance	200 light-yearsThe light you see left it around 1820.
Proper motion	0.13″ per year across the sky
Constellation	Eridanus
Right ascension (J2000)	03h 58m 01.8s
Declination (J2000)	−13° 30′ 31″

Star data: HYG Database by David Nash, CC BY-SA 4.0. All data sources →