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Alpha Scuti — Star in Scutum

Magnitude 3.9m Star Scutum (Sct) Visible
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1Physical Properties

Magnitude 3.85
Spectral Type K3 III giant
Star Color Orange (B-V 1.33) (reddened by dust)
Distance 204 ly

2Position & Identifiers

RA 18h 35m 12.4s
Dec -08° 14' 39.0"
Constellation Scutum (Sct)
HR 6973
HIP 91117
HD 171443
SAO 142408
Bayer Alpha
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

Discover

15Stellar Notes

Amp. 0.10V.
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.

NGC 6664
Easy
Open cluster
Open Cluster mag 7.8 0.3° Scutum
IC 1287
Medium+
Reflection nebula around a bright star
Reflection Nebula mag 6.10 2.7° Scutum
S Sct
Medium
Semi-regular variable, range 6.6–7.3
Variable Star mag 6.80 3.8° Scutum
NGC 6712
Easy
Globular cluster — dense ball of ancient stars
Globular Cluster mag 8.2 4.4° Scutum
Show on Map

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