Orange subgiant · Delphinus

γ² Delphini

Also known as: γ² Del, HIP 102532

mag 4.3130 light-years

About

γ² Delphini is an orange subgiant of magnitude 4.3 in Delphinus, about 130 light-years away.

How to find it

  • γ² Delphini is in the constellation Delphinus.
  • Best evenings: around mid-September 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 64° S.
  • Star patterns: Job’s Coffin.
  • Job’s Coffin: A fine double star for small telescopes: golden yellow and pale yellow, 9″ apart.

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

Designationγ² Delphini (γ² Del)
Hipparcos numberHIP 102532
TypeOrange subgiant
Spectral typeK1IV
ColourPale orangeB−V colour index 1.04
Magnitude4.3The smaller the number, the brighter.
Distance130 light-yearsThe light you see left it around 1900.
Proper motion0.20″ per year across the sky
ConstellationDelphinus
Right ascension (J2000)20h 46m 39.5s
Declination (J2000)+16° 07′ 27″

Sources and credits

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