When is the best time to observe Turais?

Turais is best observed from January through March, with peak visibility during February when it transits around midnight in the Northern Hemisphere.

Where is Turais located in the sky?

Turais lies in the constellation Quilla at right ascension 09h 17m and declination -59° 17′.

What telescope do I need to see Turais?

At magnitude 2.2, Turais is visible to the naked eye under most conditions.

Turais — Estrella en Quilla

HIP 45556; Iota Carinae

Magnitud 2.2^m Star Quilla (Car) Visible

Mapa Estelar + Lista + Plan

Acerca de Turais

Descripción

Turais (also called Aspidiske) is a white supergiant of tipo espectral A8Ib at magnitude 2.25, located a aproximadamente 690 años luz de la Tierra. It is one of the most luminous A-type supergiants in the sky, with a luminosity about 4,900 times that of el Sol. Turais is part of the once-great constellation Argo Navis, which was divided into Carina, Puppis, and Vela.

Consejos de Observación

Turais lies in the northern part of Carina, not far from the border with Vela. It is a bright white star that serves as one of the vertices of the Cruz Falsa asterism (together with Delta Vel, Kappa Vel, and Epsilon Car), which is sometimes mistaken for the true Cruz del Sur. Mejor observación from the hemisferio sur between January and May.

Historia

The name Turais is of Arabic origin, possibly derived from a word meaning 'little shield.' The alternate name Aspidiske is from Greek, also meaning 'little shield.' As part of the old constellation Argo Navis (the ship of the Argonauts), this star's Bayer designation uses the original Argo letter assignments that Nicolas Louis de Lacaille preserved when he split the constellation in 1763.

Datos Curiosos

Turais is a member of the Cruz Falsa, an asterism that has fooled many navigators into confusing it with the true Cruz del Sur (Crux). The Cruz Falsa is larger and more diamond-shaped than Crux, and Turais is its brightest member.