Kappa Aurigae — Star in Auriga
Observe
1Physical Properties
Magnitude
4.35
Spectral Type
G8.5IIIb
bright giant
Star Color
Orange
(B-V 1.02)
Distance
181 ly
2Position & Identifiers
RA
06h 15m 22.7s
Dec
+29° 29' 53.0"
Constellation
Auriga
(Aur)
HR
2219
HIP
29696
HD
43039
SAO
78143
Bayer
Kappa
Flamsteed
44 Aur
Querying VizieR catalog...
3How easy to spot?
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| Equipment | Bortle 3 | Bortle 4 | Bortle 5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Naked eye Naked eye | Medium+ | 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
Querying VizieR for stellar data…
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
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
Auriga
Mythology, bright stars, and deep-sky highlights.
Constellation
The Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram — Reading Stars Like a Map
The HR diagram turns the night sky into a physics map: every named star has a spot, every spot tells you mass, age, and fate. A guide for amateur observers.
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