Yellow giant · Phoenix

β Phoenicis

Also known as: β Phe, HIP 5165

mag 3.3

About

β Phoenicis is a yellow giant of magnitude 3.3 in Phoenix.

Read more on Wikipedia →

How to find it

  • β Phoenicis is in the constellation Phoenix.
  • Best evenings: around late November 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 33° 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

  • 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.

Facts

Designationβ Phoenicis (β Phe)
Hipparcos numberHIP 5165
TypeYellow giant
Spectral typeG8IIIvar
ColourPale orangeB−V colour index 0.89
Magnitude3.3The smaller the number, the brighter.
Proper motion0.077″ per year across the sky
ConstellationPhoenix
Right ascension (J2000)01h 06m 05.1s
Declination (J2000)−46° 43′ 06″

Sources and credits

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