Orange main-sequence star · Indus

ε Indi

Also known as: ε Ind, HIP 108870

mag 4.712 light-years

About

ε Indi is an orange main-sequence star of magnitude 4.7 in Indus, about 12 light-years away.

How to find it

  • ε Indi is in the constellation Indus.
  • Best evenings: around early October 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 23° N.

Show on sky map →

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.

What you will see

  • EyesNeeds a dark sky away from city lights.
  • 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.

Facts

Designationε Indi (ε Ind)
Hipparcos numberHIP 108870
TypeOrange main-sequence star
Spectral typeK5V
ColourPale orangeB−V colour index 1.06
Magnitude4.7The smaller the number, the brighter.
Distance12 light-yearsThe light you see left it around 2014.
Proper motion4.70″ per year across the sky
ConstellationIndus
Right ascension (J2000)22h 03m 19.8s
Declination (J2000)−56° 47′ 10″

Sources and credits

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