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Zeta Octantis — Star in Octans

Magnitude 5.4m Star Octans (Oct) Visible
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Observe

1Physical Properties

Magnitude 5.42
Spectral Type A8-9IV
Star Color Yellow-white (B-V 0.31)

2Position & Identifiers

RA 08h 56m 41.1s
Dec -85° 39' 47.0"
Constellation Octans (Oct)
HR 3678
HIP 43908
HD 79837
SAO 258515
Bayer Zeta
SIMBAD

3How easy to spot?

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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

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Best season Dec – Feb (peak: Jan)

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.

TZ Men
Medium
Eclipsing binary, period 8.6d
Variable Star mag 6.20 4.2° Mensa
NGC 1841
Hard+
Globular cluster — dense ball of ancient stars
Globular Cluster mag 12.0 5.6° Mensa
IC 2051
Medium
Barred spiral galaxy
Galaxy mag 11.23 6.6° Mensa
Eta Cha
Easy
Easy double, sep 8.0″
Double Star mag 5.47 6.7° Chamaeleon
Show on Map

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