Tau Virginis — Star in Virgo
Observe
1Physical Properties
Magnitude
4.26
Spectral Type
A3V
Star Color
White
(B-V 0.10)
Distance
136 ly
2Position & Identifiers
RA
14h 01m 38.8s
Dec
+01° 32' 40.0"
Constellation
Virgo
(Vir)
HR
5264
HIP
68520
HD
122408
SAO
120238
Bayer
Tau
Flamsteed
93 Vir
Double Cat
9085
Querying VizieR catalog...
3How easy to spot?
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| Equipment | Bortle 3 | Bortle 4 | Bortle 5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Naked eye Naked eye | Medium+ | Medium+ | Medium |
| 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
Set a location in User Settings to see visibility data.
Best season
Mar – May
(peak: Apr)
5Survey Image
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Explore
7
Size Comparison
Querying VizieR for stellar data…
8
Compare Stars
9
Spectral Classification
10
Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram
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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
B is G type, optical.
UMa stream.
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.
Explore Nightbase
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1919 eclipse expedition confirming general relativity; first theory of stellar interiors; the Eddington limit
Biography
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Mythology, bright stars, and deep-sky highlights.
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The Life of Stars
From birth in a nebula to spectacular death — how stars are born, shine, swell, and die, and how to read the clues in their starlight.
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