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Psi Aurigae — Star in Auriga

HIP 31832; Psi2 Aurigae; 50 Aurigae

Magnitude 4.8m Star Auriga (Aur) Visible
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1Physical Properties

Magnitude 4.79
Spectral Type K3III giant
Star Color Red (B-V 1.23)
Distance 815 ly

2Position & Identifiers

RA 06h 39m 19.9s
Dec +42° 29' 20.0"
Constellation Auriga (Aur)
HR 2427
HIP 31832
HD 47174
SAO 41239
Bayer Psi2
Flamsteed 50 Aur
SIMBAD Wikipedia

3How easy to spot?

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Equipment Bortle 3 Bortle 4 Bortle 5
Naked eye Medium+ Medium 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 Nov – Jan (peak: Dec)

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

Discover

14

Light Travel Time Machine

15

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.

Psi Aur
HIP 32480; Psi5 Aurigae; 56 Aurigae
Easy
Colorful double, sep 28.2″
Double Star mag 5.25 1.7° Auriga
NGC 2281
Easy
Rich open cluster
Open Cluster mag 5.4 2.2° Auriga
UU Aur
Easy
Semi-regular variable, range 5.1–6.6
Variable Star mag 5.29 4.1° Auriga
NGC 2274
Hard+
Elliptical galaxy
Galaxy mag 13.0 9.1° Gemini
Show on Map

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