Menu

Theta Volantis — Star in Volans

Magnitude 5.2m Star Volans (Vol) Visible
Star Map
+ List + Plan Star Hop

Observe

1Physical Properties

Magnitude 5.20
Spectral Type A0V
Star Color Blue-white (B-V 0.01)
Distance 544 ly

2Position & Identifiers

RA 08h 39m 05.2s
Dec -70° 23' 13.0"
Constellation Volans (Vol)
HR 3460
HIP 42425
HD 74405
SAO 256535
Bayer Theta
SIMBAD

3How easy to spot?

Sign in and configure your equipment and default location to see a personalized row.
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

Set a location in User Settings to see visibility data.

Best season Dec – Feb (peak: Jan)

5Survey Image

Loading survey image…

Explore

6

Size Comparison

Querying VizieR for stellar data…
7

Compare Stars

8

Spectral Classification

9

Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram

Loading HR diagram…
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.

Kappa Vol
HIP 40834; Kappa2 Volantis
Easy
Easy double, sep 37.2″
Double Star mag 5.65 1.9° Volans
NGC 2601
Hard+
Bright spiral galaxy
Galaxy mag 12.58 2.6° Volans
Miaplacidus
Beta Car
Easy
Bright naked-eye star, mag 1.7
Star mag 1.68 3.0° Carina
NGC 2808
Easy
Globular cluster — dense ball of ancient stars
Globular Cluster mag 6.3 6.3° Carina
R Car
Easy
Mira-type variable, range 3.9–10.1
Variable Star mag 6.10 9.2° Carina
Show on Map

Explore Nightbase

Related knowledge, tools, and stories — no observation planning required.

Arthur Eddington
1919 eclipse expedition confirming general relativity; first theory of stellar interiors; the Eddington limit
Biography
The Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram — Reading Stars Like a Map
The HR diagram turns the night sky into a physics map: every named star has a spot, every spot tells you mass, age, and fate. A guide for amateur observers.
Article
Volans
Mythology, bright stars, and deep-sky highlights.
Constellation
}