Eta Arae — Star in Ara
Observe
1Physical Properties
Magnitude
3.76
Spectral Type
K5III
giant
Star Color
Red
(B-V 1.57)
Distance
299 ly
3How easy to spot?
Sign in
and configure your equipment and default location to see a personalized row.
| 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
Apr – Jun
(peak: May)
5Survey Image
Loading survey image…
Explore
7
Size Comparison
Querying VizieR for stellar data…
8
Compare Stars
9
Spectral Classification
10
Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram
Loading HR 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
15
Light Travel Time Machine
16
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
Ara
Mythology, bright stars, and deep-sky highlights.
Constellation
The Life of Stars
From birth in a nebula to spectacular death — how stars are born, shine, swell, and die, and how to read the clues in their starlight.
Article
