Iota Mensae — Star in Mensa
Observe
1Physical Properties
Magnitude
6.05
Range
6.00 - 6.05
Period
5.3 days
Variable Type
ELL:
Spectral Type
B8III
giant
Star Color
Blue-white
(B-V -0.02)
2Position & Identifiers
RA
05h 35m 36.3s
Dec
-78° 49' 15.0"
Constellation
Mensa
(Men)
HR
1991
HIP
26264
HD
38602
SAO
256214
Bayer
Iota
Variable ID
Iot Men
Querying VizieR catalog...
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 | Hard+ | Hard | V. hard+ |
| 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
Loading survey image…
Explore
6
Size Comparison
Querying VizieR for stellar data…
7
Compare Stars
8
Spectral Classification
9
Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram
Loading HR diagram…
10
Stellar Lifecycle
11
Blackbody Spectrum
12
Stellar Absorption Spectrum
Simulated absorption spectrum based on spectral type. Hover over lines to identify elements.
13
Stellar Fusion
Discover
14Stellar Notes
Ell 6.00 - 6.05V, 5.288d. Additional irregular variability.
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.
NGC 2012
Elliptical galaxy
Galaxy
mag 12.97
1.2°
Mensa
NGC 2203
Open cluster
Open Cluster
mag 11.29
3.7°
Mensa
NGC 1841
Globular cluster — dense ball of ancient stars
Globular Cluster
mag 12.0
5.5°
Mensa
TZ Men
Eclipsing binary, period 8.6d
Variable Star
mag 6.20
6.0°
Mensa
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
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
Mensa
Mythology, bright stars, and deep-sky highlights.
Constellation
