When is the best time to observe Sharatan?

Sharatan is best observed from September through November, with peak visibility during October when it transits around midnight in the Northern Hemisphere.

Where is Sharatan located in the sky?

Sharatan lies in the constellation Aries at right ascension 01h 55m and declination +20° 48′.

What telescope do I need to see Sharatan?

At magnitude 2.6, Sharatan is visible to the naked eye from dark skies, easy in any binoculars.

Sharatan — Star in Aries

HIP 8903; Beta Arietis; 6 Arietis

Star Aries (Ari) Visible

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About Sharatan

Description

Sheratan is a white star of spectral type A5V at magnitude 2.64, the second brightest star in Aries. Located about 60 light-years from Earth, it has a luminosity of about 11 times solar. Sheratan is a spectroscopic binary with an orbital period of about 107 days.

Observing Tips

Sheratan lies just southwest of Hamal (Alpha Ari), forming the most visible pair of stars in the Ram's head. Together with Mesarthim (Gamma Ari), they define the small triangular head of Aries. Best observed October through February.

History

The name Sheratan comes from the Arabic 'al-sharatan,' meaning 'the two signs,' referring to Sheratan and Mesarthim as markers of the vernal equinox around 2000 BC. The precession of the equinoxes has long since moved the vernal point westward into Pisces.

Fun Facts

Sheratan marked the vernal equinox around the time of the early Babylonian astronomers, making it and its neighbor one of the most symbolically important pairs of stars in ancient astronomy.

Observe

1Physical Properties

Magnitude 2.64

Variable Type Delta Scuti (Pulsating)

Spectral Type A5. V SB

Star Color White (B-V 0.13)

Distance 59 ly

2Position & Identifiers

RA 01h 54m 38.4s

Dec +20° 48' 29.0"

Constellation Aries (Ari)

HR 553

HIP 8903

HD 11636

Bayer Beta

Flamsteed 6 Ari

SIMBAD Wikipedia

3How easy to spot?

Equipment	Bortle 3	Bortle 4	Bortle 5
Naked eye Naked eye	Easy	Easy	Easy
50 mm finder 50mm finder	Easy	Easy	Easy
150 mm telescope 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 Sep – Nov (peak: Oct)

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Spectral Classification

Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram

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Stellar Lifecycle

Blackbody Spectrum

Stellar Absorption Spectrum

Simulated absorption spectrum based on spectral type. Hover over lines to identify elements.

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14Stellar Notes

Variable Star

Delta Sct?

Spectroscopic Binary

106.9973d, K 37.1k/s, V0 -4.0k/s, asini 23.8. One of the most eccentric orbits known: e 0.892. Binary unresolved by | speckle interferometry 1981.69. SB2 in infrared: near-IR reticon spectra at 8800 Ang show double lines and indicate | that the secondary is late F- or G-type main-sequence star.

Alternative Names

Sharatan; Sheratan; Al Sharatain.