When is the best time to observe Beta Arae?

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

Where is Beta Arae located in the sky?

Beta Arae lies in the constellation Altar at right ascension 17h 25m and declination -55° 32′.

What telescope do I need to see Beta Arae?

At magnitude 2.9, Beta Arae is visible to the naked eye from dark skies, easy in any binoculars.

Beta Arae — Estrella en Altar

Magnitud 2.9^m Star Altar (Ara) Visible

Mapa Estelar + Lista + Plan

Acerca de Beta Ara

Descripción

Beta Arae is an supergigante naranja of tipo espectral K3Ib at magnitude 2.85 in the constellation Ara (the Altar). Located a aproximadamente 600 años luz de la Tierra, it is one of the most luminous stars in its constellation with a luminosity about 4,600 veces la solar. Its cool temperatura superficial of about 4,200 K gives it a distinctly orange hue.

Consejos de Observación

Beta Ara lies in the small southern constellation Ara, just south of the Scorpion's tail. It appears as a warm orange star and is the brightest member of the constellation's northern región. Only visible from the hemisferio sur and tropical latitudes. Mejor observación from June through August when Ara is highest in the southern sky.

Historia

Ara (the Altar) is one of the 48 original Ptolemaic constellations, representing the altar on which the Greek gods swore allegiance before their war against the Titans. Beta Arae has no traditional proper name. The constellation is small and lies in a rich área of the southern Vía Láctea.

Datos Curiosos

As a K-type supergiant, Beta Ara is a fairly rare type of bright star. Supergiants of this spectral class are in a brief evolutionary phase between the secuencia principal and their eventual fate as supernovas, making Beta Ara a star living on borrowed time astronomically speaking.