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72 Ophiuchi — Star in Ophiuchus

Magnitude 3.7m Star Ophiuchus (Oph) Visible
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1Physical Properties

Magnitude 3.73
Spectral Type A5V
Star Color Yellow-white (B-V 0.12)
Distance 87 ly

2Position & Identifiers

RA 18h 07m 21.0s
Dec +09° 33' 50.0"
Constellation Ophiuchus (Oph)
HR 6771
HIP 88771
HD 165777
SAO 123142
Flamsteed 72 Oph
Double Cat 11076
SIMBAD

3How easy to spot?

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Equipment Bortle 3 Bortle 4 Bortle 5
Naked eye Easy 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)

5Survey Image

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7

Size Comparison

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8

Compare Stars

9

Spectral Classification

10

Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram

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Read: The Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram — Reading Stars Like a Map
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

Discordance in designations of components between ADS and IDS. We accept IDS. Component B, in notes to ADS 11076 not | assigned letter: doubtful, sep. 0.1" if real. C, 14v at 25" CPM. D = ADS C, 11v at 54" optical.
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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.

NGC 6572
Medium+
Small bright planetary nebula
Planetary Nebula mag 9.0 3.0° Ophiuchus
Tweedledee Cluster
NGC 6633
Easy
Rich open cluster
Open Cluster mag 4.6 5.8° Ophiuchus
X Oph
Easy
Mira-type variable, range 5.9–9.2
Variable Star mag 6.40 7.7° Ophiuchus
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