Gamma Sextantis — Double Star in Sextans
Observe
1Physical Properties
Magnitude
5.05
Spectral Type
A1V
Star Color
White
(B-V 0.04)
Distance
251 ly
2Position & Identifiers
RA
09h 52m 30.4s
Dec
-08° 06' 18.0"
Constellation
Sextans
(Sex)
HR
3909
HIP
48437
HD
85558
SAO
137199
Bayer
Gamma
Flamsteed
8 Sex
Double Cat
7555
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3How easy to spot?
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| Equipment | Bortle 3 | Bortle 4 | Bortle 5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Naked eye Naked eye | Medium | Hard+ | Hard+ |
| 50 mm finder 50mm finder | Easy | Easy | Easy |
| 150 mm telescope 150mm scope | Easy | Easy | Easy |
Easy
Medium
Hard
Very hard
Impossible
Bortle 3 = rural · 4 = outer suburbs · 5 = suburbs
4Visibility
Set a location in User Settings to see visibility data.
Best season
Jan – Mar
(peak: Feb)
5Multiple Star System Triple
Components
3 (triple)
Component IDs
AB
Separation
0.3″
Companion Mag
6.4
Position Angle
30°
Star Colors
A: White
B: Yellow-white
Discoverer
AC 5
AB 5.58 A1V, 6.07 A4V, 77.55y, a = 0.383". Combined mag., colors. C, 12.28V at 36" optical.
Separation over time
Period: 77.6 y
Eccentricity: 0.741
Now: 0.32", PA 21°
-0.16" in 5 years
Apparent separation over time, computed from ORB6 orbital elements. Steep curves indicate fast-changing pairs — catch them while they're splittable.
Explore
6
Size Comparison
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7
Compare Stars
8
Spectral Classification
9
Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram
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10
Stellar Lifecycle
11
Blackbody Spectrum
12
Stellar Absorption Spectrum
Simulated absorption spectrum based on spectral type. Hover over lines to identify elements.
13
Stellar Fusion
Discover
14Stellar Notes
0.012".
15
Light Travel Time Machine
16
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.
Spindle Galaxy
NGC 3115
Elliptical galaxy
Galaxy
mag 8.9
3.2°
Sextans
Alphard
HIP 46390; Alpha Hydrae; 30 Hydrae
Bright naked-eye star, mag 2.0
Double Star
mag 1.98
6.2°
Hydra
Tau Hya
HIP 46509; Tau1 Hydrae; 31 Hydrae
Easy double, sep 65.7″
Double Star
mag 4.60
7.9°
Hydra
21 Hya
Eclipsing binary, period 7.7d
Variable Star
mag 6.11
10.0°
Hydra
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