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Xi Mensae — Star in Mensa

Magnitude 5.8m Star Mensa (Men) Visible
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Observe

1Physical Properties

Magnitude 5.85
Spectral Type G8-K0III
Star Color Orange (B-V 0.93)

2Position & Identifiers

RA 04h 58m 50.9s
Dec -82° 28' 14.0"
Constellation Mensa (Men)
HR 1716
HIP 23148
HD 34172
SAO 258395
Bayer Xi
SIMBAD

3How easy to spot?

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Equipment Bortle 3 Bortle 4 Bortle 5
Naked eye Hard+ Hard V. 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 Oct – Dec (peak: Nov)

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.

NGC 1841
Hard+
Globular cluster — dense ball of ancient stars
Globular Cluster mag 12.0 1.6° Mensa
IC 2051
Medium
Barred spiral galaxy
Galaxy mag 11.23 2.4° Mensa
TZ Men
Medium
Eclipsing binary, period 8.6d
Variable Star mag 6.20 2.5° Mensa
BN Hyi
Easy
Easy double, sep 15.2″
Double Star mag 5.57 5.6° Hydrus
Show on Map

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