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Phi Ophiuchi — Star in Ophiuchus

Magnitude 4.3m Star Ophiuchus (Oph) Visible
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Observe

1Physical Properties

Magnitude 4.28
Spectral Type G8+IIIa
Star Color Orange (B-V 0.92)
Distance 233 ly

2Position & Identifiers

RA 16h 31m 08.3s
Dec -16° 36' 46.0"
Constellation Ophiuchus (Oph)
HR 6147
HIP 80894
HD 148786
SAO 159963
Bayer Phi
Flamsteed 8 Oph
Double Cat 10086
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 Apr – Jun (peak: May)

5Survey Image

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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

Probable Hyades group.
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.

M107
Crucifix Cluster
Easy
Globular cluster — dense ball of ancient stars
Globular Cluster mag 7.9 3.6° Ophiuchus
V1010 Oph
Medium+
Eclipsing binary, period 15.9h
Variable Star mag 6.10 4.5° Ophiuchus
Jabbah
HIP 79374; Nu Scorpii; 14 Scorpii
Easy
Easy double, sep 41.4″
Double Star mag 4.01 5.4° Scorpius
IC 4592
Medium+
Reflection nebula around a bright star
Reflection Nebula mag 3.90 5.4° Scorpius
Show on Map

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Ophiuchus
Mythology, bright stars, and deep-sky highlights.
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