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Rho Bootis — Star in Boötes

Magnitude 3.6m Star Boötes (Boo) Visible
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1Physical Properties

Magnitude 3.58
Range 3.57 - 3.58
Period 5.2 days
Variable Type RS CVn (Chromospherically Active)
Spectral Type K3- III
Star Color Orange (B-V 1.30) (reddened by dust)
Distance 160 ly

2Position & Identifiers

RA 14h 31m 49.8s
Dec +30° 22' 17.0"
Constellation Boötes (Boo)
HR 5429
HIP 71053
HD 127665
SAO 64202
Bayer Rho
Flamsteed 25 Boo
Double Cat 9296
SIMBAD

3How easy to spot?

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Equipment Bortle 3 Bortle 4 Bortle 5
Naked eye Easy 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 Mar – May (peak: Apr)

5Survey Image

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Explore

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

15

Light Travel Time Machine

16

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.

NGC 5623
Hard+
Elliptical galaxy
Galaxy mag 13.0 3.0° Boötes
Izar
HIP 72105; Epsilon Bootis; 36 Bootis
Easy
Tight double — a rewarding split at 2.8″
Double Star mag 2.70 4.4° Boötes
34 Boo
Medium
Semi-regular variable, range 4.7–5.4
Variable Star mag 4.81 4.6° Boötes
NGC 5466
Easy
Globular cluster — dense ball of ancient stars
Globular Cluster mag 9.1 6.0° Boötes
Show on Map

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Boötes
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