About Zaniah
Description
Zaniah, Eta Virginis, is an A-type subgiant of spectral class A2 IV about 265 light-years away in the constellation Virgo. It shines at magnitude 3.89. Zaniah is a triple-star system with two close components (a primary and a B-type companion at 30 milliarcseconds) plus a distant companion 15 arcseconds away.
Observing Tips
Zaniah sits in the western part of Virgo. Its 15-arcsecond companion is a target for large amateur scopes; the inner pair is too close to split visually. Binoculars show Zaniah's crisp blue-white color. Best observed February through July.
History
The name Zaniah comes from the Arabic "al-zāwiyah," meaning "the corner" — referring to Virgo's position in an angular asterism. The IAU adopted the name in 2016.
Fun Facts
The inner pair of Zaniah is one of the closer A-type binaries known. Fine speckle interferometry has traced the orbit over decades, with the two stars completing one revolution every 72 days. The tight spiral of the orbit makes Zaniah a benchmark system for calibrating mass-luminosity relations for A-type dwarfs.
Observe
1Physical Properties
2Position & Identifiers
3How easy to spot?
| Equipment | Bortle 3 | Bortle 4 | Bortle 5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Naked eye Naked eye | Easy | Medium+ | Medium+ |
| 50 mm finder 50mm finder | Easy | Easy | Easy |
| 150 mm telescope 150mm scope | Easy | Easy | Easy |
Bortle 3 = rural · 4 = outer suburbs · 5 = suburbs
4Visibility
Set a location in User Settings to see visibility data.
Explore
6
Size Comparison
7
Compare Stars
8
Spectral Classification
9
Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram
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
14Stellar Notes
15
Light Travel Time Machine
16
Relativistic Travel
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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.
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