When is the best time to observe Alphecca?

Alphecca is best observed from April through June, with peak visibility during May when it transits around midnight in the Northern Hemisphere.

Where is Alphecca located in the sky?

Alphecca lies in the constellation Corona Boreal at right ascension 15h 35m and declination +26° 43′.

What telescope do I need to see Alphecca?

At magnitude 2.2, Alphecca is visible to the naked eye under most conditions.

Alphecca — Estrella en Corona Boreal

HIP 76267; Alpha Coronae Borealis; 5 Coronae Borealis

Magnitud 2.2^m Star Corona Boreal (CrB) Visible

Mapa Estelar + Lista + Plan

Acerca de Alphecca

Descripción

Alphecca (also called Gemma) is the brightest star in Corona Borealis at magnitude 2.23. It is a binaria espectroscópica consisting of a white main-sequence primary (A0V) and a yellow companion (G5V) orbiting each other every 17.4 days. Located a unos 75 años luz de la Tierra, the primary star has a luminosity of about 74 veces la solar. Alphecca is also an binaria eclipsante — the fainter companion periodically passes in front of the primary, causing a barely detectable dip in brightness.

Consejos de Observación

Alphecca is the gem of the small but elegant semicircular constellation Corona Borealis (the Northern Crown), located between Bootes and Hercules. The constellation's distinctive curved arc of seven stars is easy to spot, with Alphecca as the brightest in the middle. Mejor observación from May through September when the Northern Crown is high in the cielo nocturno. The eclipsing nature cannot be detected visually.

Historia

The name Alphecca derives from Arabic 'al-fakkah,' meaning 'the broken' or 'the broken ring,' referring to the gap in the circlet of Corona Borealis. The alternate name Gemma is Latin for 'jewel,' reflecting its position as the brightest gem in the celestial crown. In mitología griega, the crown represents the jeweled diadem of Ariadne, placed among the stars by Dionysus.

Datos Curiosos

Alphecca is surrounded by an infrared excess detected by the IRAS satellite, suggesting it has a disco circunestelar of dust similar to that around Vega. This makes it a potential candidate for having a planetary system or disco de escombros in the process of forming or evolving.