Nu Puppis — Star in Puppis
About Nu Pup
Description
Nu Puppis is a blue-white giant of spectral type B8III at magnitude 3.17 in Puppis. It has a surface temperature of about 12,000 K and lies in the rich star fields of the southern Milky Way. It is a moderately luminous evolved star that has left the main sequence.
Observing Tips
Nu Pup lies in the northern part of Puppis, in a star-rich area of the Milky Way south of Monoceros. It appears as a blue-white star surrounded by many fainter stars. Best observed from January through April. Several attractive open clusters are nearby, making this a rewarding area for binocular sweeping.
History
Nu Puppis has no traditional proper name. Like all stars in Puppis, it was originally part of Argo Navis before the constellation was subdivided in 1763. The region around Nu Pup is rich in star clusters and associations, forming part of the Puppis OB associations.
Fun Facts
The area around Nu Pup is one of the richest regions for open star clusters visible in binoculars. The nearby clusters M46, M47, and M93 are all within a few degrees, making this a popular area for amateur observers to sweep through with binoculars or a wide-field telescope.
Observe
1Physical Properties
2Position & Identifiers
3How easy to spot?
| Equipment | Bortle 3 | Bortle 4 | Bortle 5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Naked eye Naked eye | Easy | Easy | Medium+ |
| 50 mm finder 50mm finder | Easy | Easy | Easy |
| 150 mm telescope 150mm scope | Easy | Easy | Easy |
Bortle 3 = rural · 4 = outer suburbs · 5 = suburbs
4Visibility
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5Survey Image
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Explore
7
Size Comparison
8
Compare Stars
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Spectral Classification
10
Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram
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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
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.
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