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Nu Mensae — Star in Mensa

Magnitude 5.8m Star Mensa (Men) Visible
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1Physical Properties

Magnitude 5.79
Spectral Type F0-2III
Star Color Yellow-white (B-V 0.35)

2Position & Identifiers

RA 04h 20m 57.9s
Dec -81° 34' 48.0"
Constellation Mensa (Men)
HR 1456
HIP 20297
HD 29116
SAO 258378
Bayer Nu
SIMBAD

3How easy to spot?

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Equipment Bortle 3 Bortle 4 Bortle 5
Naked eye Hard+ Hard V. hard+
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 Oct – Dec (peak: Nov)

5Survey Image

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6

Size Comparison

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7

Compare Stars

8

Spectral Classification

9

Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram

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

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14Stellar Notes

Also classified A5m.

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.

IC 2051
Medium
Barred spiral galaxy
Galaxy mag 11.23 2.4° Mensa
NGC 1841
Hard+
Globular cluster — dense ball of ancient stars
Globular Cluster mag 12.0 2.5° Mensa
TZ Men
Medium
Eclipsing binary, period 8.6d
Variable Star mag 6.20 3.8° Mensa
BN Hyi
Easy
Easy double, sep 15.2″
Double Star mag 5.57 4.0° Hydrus
Show on Map

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