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Sigma Columbae — Star in Columba

Magnitude 5.5m Star Columba (Col) Visible
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1Physical Properties

Magnitude 5.50
Spectral Type F2III giant

2Position & Identifiers

RA 05h 56m 20.9s
Dec -31° 22' 57.0"
Constellation Columba (Col)
HR 2092
HIP 28098
HD 40248
SAO 196330
Bayer Sigma
SIMBAD

3How easy to spot?

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Equipment Bortle 3 Bortle 4 Bortle 5
Naked eye Medium Hard+ 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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Explore

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

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.

Mu Col
Easy
Hot blue O-type star
Star mag 5.17 2.4° Columba
NGC 2090
Medium
Bright spiral galaxy
Galaxy mag 12.0 3.5° Columba
HIP 30840
Hard+
Tight double — a rewarding split at 1.2″
Double Star mag 5.74 6.9° Canis Major
NGC 2243
Easy
Open cluster
Open Cluster mag 9.4 7.1° Canis Major
S Lep
Easy
Semi-regular variable, range 6.0–7.6
Variable Star mag 6.95 7.5° Lepus
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