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44 Ophiuchi — Double Star in Ophiuchus

Magnitude 4.2m DoubleStar Ophiuchus (Oph) Visible
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1Physical Properties

Magnitude 4.17
Spectral Type A3m
Star Color White (B-V 0.28)
Distance 72 ly

2Position & Identifiers

RA 17h 26m 22.2s
Dec -24° 10' 31.0"
Constellation Ophiuchus (Oph)
HR 6486
HIP 85340
HD 157792
SAO 185401
Flamsteed 44 Oph
SIMBAD

3How easy to spot?

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Equipment Bortle 3 Bortle 4 Bortle 5
Naked eye Medium+ Medium+ Medium
50mm finder Easy Easy Easy
150mm scope Easy Easy Easy
Easy Medium Hard Very hard Impossible

Bortle 3 = rural · 4 = outer suburbs · 5 = suburbs

4Visibility

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Best season May – Jul (peak: Jun)

5Multiple Star System

Separation 0.1″
Companion Mag 5.1
Position Angle -1°
Star Colors A: White
Discoverer OCC 64

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7

Size Comparison

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8

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9

Spectral Classification

10

Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram

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11

Stellar Lifecycle

12

Blackbody Spectrum

13

Stellar Absorption Spectrum

Simulated absorption spectrum based on spectral type. Hover over lines to identify elements.

14

Stellar Fusion

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15Stellar Notes

Hyades group.
Also classified A9m:, F2:.
16

Light Travel Time Machine

17

Relativistic Travel

Nearby in the Sky

Other targets within a few degrees — pan your scope a little and keep exploring.

Visibility scores assume a 150 mm Newton at Bortle 4.

Theta Oph
Easy
Hot blue O-type star
Double Star mag 3.27 1.3° Ophiuchus
39 Oph
Easy
Colorful double, sep 10.7″
Double Star mag 5.20 1.9° Ophiuchus
NGC 6325
Medium+
Globular cluster — dense ball of ancient stars
Globular Cluster mag 10.7 2.0° Ophiuchus
Xi Oph
Medium
Colorful double, sep 4.1″
Double Star mag 4.39 3.3° Ophiuchus
Guniibuu
HIP 84405; 36 Ophiuchi
Easy
Easy double, sep 5.2″
Double Star mag 5.07 3.5° Ophiuchus
3 Sgr
Medium
Pulsating variable, period 7.0d
Variable Star mag 4.54 6.0° Sagittarius
NGC 6469
Easy
Open cluster
Open Cluster mag 8.0 6.4° Sagittarius
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