Beta Pictoris — Star in Pictor
Observe
1Physical Properties
Magnitude
3.85
Spectral Type
A5 V
Star Color
Yellow-white
(B-V 0.17)
Distance
63 ly
2Position & Identifiers
RA
05h 47m 17.1s
Dec
-51° 03' 59.0"
Constellation
Pictor
(Pic)
HR
2020
HIP
27321
HD
39060
SAO
234134
Bayer
Beta
Querying VizieR catalog...
3How easy to spot?
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| 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 |
Easy
Medium
Hard
Very hard
Impossible
Bortle 3 = rural · 4 = outer suburbs · 5 = suburbs
4Visibility
Set a location in User Settings to see visibility data.
Best season
Nov – Jan
(peak: Dec)
5Survey Image
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Explore
7
Size Comparison
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8
Compare Stars
9
Spectral Classification
10
Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram
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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
15
Exoplanets
2 known planets
View in 3D
View this system in the 3D Orrery
Interactive Keplerian orbits, procedural planet textures, habitable zone.
| Planet | Radius | Mass | Period | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| bet Pic c | 12.50R⊕ | 10.14M♃ | 3.3yr | 64ly |
| bet Pic b | 18.49R⊕ | 11.73M♃ | 23.6yr | 64ly |
Habitable Zone
Size & Mass Comparison
About exoplanets — how we find them and which host stars you can observe
Discover
16Stellar Notes
Shell star.
17
Light Travel Time Machine
18
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.
Explore Nightbase
Related knowledge, tools, and stories — no observation planning required.
Arthur Eddington
1919 eclipse expedition confirming general relativity; first theory of stellar interiors; the Eddington limit
Biography
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Article
Pictor
Mythology, bright stars, and deep-sky highlights.
Constellation
