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Phi Orionis — Star in Orion

HIP 26366; Phi2 Orionis; 40 Orionis

Magnitude 4.1m Star Orion (Ori) Visible
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1Physical Properties

Magnitude 4.09
Spectral Type K0IIIbFe-2 bright giant
Star Color Orange (B-V 0.95)
Distance 109 ly

2Position & Identifiers

RA 05h 36m 54.3s
Dec +09° 17' 26.0"
Constellation Orion (Ori)
HR 1907
HIP 26366
HD 37160
SAO 112958
Bayer Phi2
Flamsteed 40 Ori
SIMBAD Wikipedia

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 Nov – Jan (peak: Dec)

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

Sigma Pup 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.

Meissa
Lambda Ori (BS1879)
Easy
Easy double, sep 4.1″
Double Star mag 3.54 0.8° Orion
Lambda Orionis Cluster
Easy
Open cluster
Open Cluster mag 2.8 0.8° Orion
Bellatrix
HIP 25336; Gamma Orionis; 24 Orionis
Easy
Hot blue O-type star
Star mag 1.64 4.1° Orion
Betelgeuse
HIP 27989; Alpha Orionis; 58 Orionis
Medium+
Semi-regular variable, range 0.4–1.3
Variable Star mag 0.50 4.9° Orion
NGC 2071
Medium+
Diffuse nebula
Diffuse Nebula mag 8.00 9.3° Orion
Show on Map

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1919 eclipse expedition confirming general relativity; first theory of stellar interiors; the Eddington limit
Biography
Orion
Mythology, bright stars, and deep-sky highlights.
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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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