Delta Centauri — Star in Centaurus
About Delta Cen
Description
Delta Centauri is a hot blue star of spectral type B2IVne at magnitude 2.60 in Centaurus. It is a Be star, rapidly rotating and surrounded by a gaseous disk. Located about 395 light-years from Earth, it has a luminosity of roughly 8,500 times solar.
Observing Tips
Delta Cen lies in the body of Centaurus, between the brilliant pointer pair (Alpha/Beta) and the northern stars. It is a blue-white star in the rich southern Milky Way. Only visible from the southern hemisphere and very low northern latitudes. Best observed March through July.
History
Delta Centauri has no traditional proper name. As a Be star, it is a rapidly rotating hot star that has ejected material into a circumstellar disk, causing emission lines and occasional brightness variations.
Fun Facts
Be stars like Delta Cen rotate so rapidly that they are near the centrifugal breakup limit. The disk of ejected gas can cause the star's brightness and spectral lines to vary unpredictably over months to years.
Observe
1Physical Properties
2Position & Identifiers
3How easy to spot?
| Equipment | Bortle 3 | Bortle 4 | Bortle 5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Naked eye Naked eye | Easy | Easy | Easy |
| 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
Set a location in User Settings to see visibility data.
5Survey Image
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Explore
7
Size Comparison
8
Compare Stars
9
Spectral Classification
10
Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram
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
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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