Heze — Double Star in Virgo
HIP 66249; Zeta Virginis; 79 Virginis
About Heze
Description
Heze is a white main-sequence star of spectral type A3V at magnitude 3.37 in Virgo. Located about 74 light-years from Earth, it has a luminosity of roughly 17 times solar. It is a fairly ordinary A-type star in the midsection of Virgo.
Observing Tips
Heze lies in the body of Virgo, between Spica to the south and the Virgo Cluster of galaxies to the north. It is a white star of moderate brightness. Best observed April through July when Virgo is prominent.
History
The name Heze is of uncertain origin — it may derive from an Arabic word. Virgo is a large zodiacal constellation that contains the famous Virgo Cluster of galaxies, the nearest large galaxy cluster to Earth.
Fun Facts
The Virgo Cluster of galaxies lies roughly between Heze and Vindemiatrix, making this stretch of Virgo one of the richest galaxy-hunting grounds in the sky for amateur telescopes.
Observe
1Physical Properties
2Position & Identifiers
3How easy to split?
| Telescope | Bortle 3 | Bortle 4 | Bortle 5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 80 mm refractor 80mm refr. | V. hard | V. hard | V. hard |
| 150 mm Newton 150mm Newt. | V. hard | V. hard | V. hard |
| Celestron C8 (203 mm SCT) C8 203mm | V. hard | V. hard | V. hard |
Bortle 3 = rural · 4 = outer suburbs · 5 = suburbs
4Visibility
Set a location in User Settings to see visibility data.
5Multiple Star System
Eyepiece View
A: 3.4 · B: 10.0 · Sep: 1.8″ · PA: 154° · N up, E right
Unresolved · Rayleigh: 2.3″ · Dawes: 1.9″ · Eff: 2.3″
Explore
7
Size Comparison
8
Compare Stars
9
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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