Dalim — Double Star in Fornax
HIP 14879; Alpha Fornacis
About Dalim
Description
Dalim, Alpha Fornacis, is the brightest star in the faint southern constellation Fornax. It is an F-type subgiant of spectral class F6 V about 46.4 light-years away — a relatively nearby bright star. Dalim is a close visual binary, with a magnitude 7 companion orbiting every 269 years at a current separation of 5 arcseconds. Combined system magnitude is 3.87.
Observing Tips
Dalim lies in southern Fornax, an inconspicuous constellation south of Eridanus. Despite being the constellation's alpha star, Fornax is so faint overall that Dalim is sometimes overlooked. The 5-arcsecond double is a lovely pair in a 3-inch scope at 100x. Best observed October through February.
History
The name Dalim was proposed and adopted by the IAU in 2017. Its etymology is somewhat uncertain but is believed to derive from a medieval Arabic source for this region.
Fun Facts
Fornax is one of several 18th-century "furnace" constellations — along with Antlia (the air pump), Reticulum (the reticle), and Microscopium — created by Nicolas-Louis de Lacaille to fill gaps in the southern sky with scientific-instrument themes. Dalim's modest brightness reflects the general lack of bright stars in these Lacaille constellations.
Observe
1Physical Properties
2Position & Identifiers
3How easy to split?
| Telescope | Bortle 3 | Bortle 4 | Bortle 5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 80 mm refractor 80mm refr. | Medium | Medium | Medium |
| 150 mm Newton 150mm Newt. | Easy | Easy | Easy |
| Celestron C8 (203 mm SCT) C8 203mm | Easy | Easy | Easy |
Bortle 3 = rural · 4 = outer suburbs · 5 = suburbs
4Visibility
Set a location in User Settings to see visibility data.
5Multiple Star System
Separation over time
Apparent separation over time, computed from ORB6 orbital elements. Steep curves indicate fast-changing pairs — catch them while they're splittable.
Eyepiece View
A: 3.9 · B: 7.2 · Sep: 5.5″ · PA: 301° · N up, E right
Resolved · Rayleigh: 2.3″ · Dawes: 1.9″ · Eff: 2.3″
Explore
7
Size Comparison
8
Compare Stars
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Spectral Classification
10
Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram
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
Discover
15Stellar Notes
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.
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