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Kappa Lyrae — Star in Lyra

Magnitude 4.3m Star Lyra (Lyr) Visible
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Observe

1Physical Properties

Magnitude 4.33
Range 4.32 - 4.34
Variable Type Variable (Unclassified)
Spectral Type K2IIIabCN0.5 bright giant
Star Color Red (B-V 1.17)
Distance 297 ly

2Position & Identifiers

RA 18h 19m 51.7s
Dec +36° 03' 52.0"
Constellation Lyra (Lyr)
HR 6872
HIP 89826
HD 168775
SAO 66869
Bayer Kappa
Flamsteed 1 Lyr
SIMBAD

3How easy to spot?

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Equipment Bortle 3 Bortle 4 Bortle 5
Naked eye Medium+ Medium+ Medium
50mm finder Easy Easy Easy
150mm scope Easy Easy Easy
Easy Medium Hard Very hard Impossible

Bortle 3 = rural · 4 = outer suburbs · 5 = suburbs

4Visibility

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Best season May – Jul (peak: Jun)

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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Read: The Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram — Reading Stars Like a Map
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

Possibly outward moving atmosphere.
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.

T Lyr
Easy
Variable star, range 7.5–9.2
Variable Star mag 7.50 2.7° Lyra
Vega
HIP 91262; Alpha Lyrae; 3 Lyrae
Easy
Bright naked-eye star, mag 0.0
Star mag 0.03 4.3° Lyra
104 Her
Easy
Cool red giant
Star mag 4.97 4.9° Hercules
M57
Ring Nebula
Easy
Planetary nebula — try an OIII filter
Planetary Nebula mag 8.8 7.6° Lyra
Show on Map

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