Albali — Star in Aquarius
HIP 102618; Epsilon Aquarii; 2 Aquarii
About Albali
Description
Albali, Epsilon Aquarii, is a B-type main-sequence star of spectral class B9.5 V about 208 light-years away in the western part of Aquarius. It shines at magnitude 3.77 with a crisp blue-white color. Albali has a mass of about 2.1 Suns. No visual or spectroscopic companions have been confirmed.
Observing Tips
Albali sits in the western edge of Aquarius, south of Pegasus and west of Sadalmelik. It is an easy naked-eye star. Best observed August through November.
History
The name Albali comes from the Arabic "al-bāli'," meaning "the swallower" — referring to a pre-Islamic asterism representing a creature swallowing the celestial river of Aquarius's water-pot. The IAU adopted the name in 2016.
Fun Facts
Aquarius hosts an unusual concentration of Arabic-derived star names — Albali joins Sadalmelik, Sadalsuud, Sadachbia, and several others as memorials to the pre-Islamic tradition of this region as "the Sea." The water-pouring imagery was already ancient before Greek astronomy adopted Aquarius.
Observe
1Physical Properties
2Position & Identifiers
3How easy to spot?
| Equipment | Bortle 3 | Bortle 4 | Bortle 5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Naked eye Naked eye | Easy | Medium+ | Medium+ |
| 50 mm finder 50mm finder | Easy | Easy | Easy |
| 150 mm telescope 150mm scope | Easy | Easy | Easy |
Bortle 3 = rural · 4 = outer suburbs · 5 = suburbs
4Visibility
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5Survey Image
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Explore
7
Size Comparison
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Compare Stars
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Spectral Classification
10
Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram
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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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