l Carinae — Variable Star in Carina
Excellent (67/100)
Observe
1Physical Properties
Magnitude
3.69
Range
3.32 - 4.12
Period
36 days
Variable Type
Classical Cepheid
Spectral Type
G5Iab/Ib
supergiant
Star Color
Red
(B-V 1.22)
Distance
1,525 ly
2Position & Identifiers
RA
09h 45m 14.8s
Dec
-62° 30' 28.0"
Constellation
Carina
(Car)
HR
3884
HIP
47854
HD
84810
SAO
250683
Variable ID
l Car
Querying VizieR catalog...
3How easy to follow?
Magnitude
3.3 – 4.2 mag
Amplitude
0.9 mag
Period
35.56 d
Type
DCEP
Sign in
and configure your equipment and default location to see a personalized row.
| Equipment | Bortle 3 | Bortle 4 | Bortle 5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Naked eye Naked eye | Medium | Medium | Hard+ |
| 50 mm finder 50mm finder | Medium+ | Medium+ | Medium+ |
| 150 mm telescope 150mm scope | Medium+ | Medium+ | Medium+ |
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
Jan – Mar
(peak: Feb)
5Survey Image
Loading survey image…
6Light Curve
7Comparison Stars for l Car (3.3–4.2)
Nearby stable stars for estimating brightness (AAVSO)
Loading comparison stars…
Explore
9
Size Comparison
Querying VizieR for stellar data…
10
Compare Stars
11
Spectral Classification
12
Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram
Loading HR diagram…
13
Stellar Lifecycle
14
Blackbody Spectrum
15
Stellar Absorption Spectrum
Simulated absorption spectrum based on spectral type. Hover over lines to identify elements.
16
Stellar Fusion
Discover
17Stellar Notes
CDelta 3.28 - 4.18V, 35.53584d. Period varies.
Possible circumstellar shell. Also classified F6Ib-K0Ib.
35.5374d.
18
Light Travel Time Machine
19
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.
R Car
Mira-type variable, range 3.9–10.1
Variable Star
mag 6.10
1.5°
Carina
Upsilon Car
HIP 48002; Upsilon Carinae
Easy double, sep 5.1″
Double Star
mag 3.01
2.6°
Carina
NGC 2887
Elliptical galaxy
Galaxy
mag 11.66
2.8°
Carina
S Car
Mira-type variable, range 4.5–9.9
Variable Star
mag 5.60
3.0°
Carina
NGC 3114
Rich open cluster
Open Cluster
mag 4.2
3.2°
Carina
U Car
Pulsating variable, period 38.8d
Variable Star
mag 6.11
9.2°
Carina
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
Variable Stars — A Guide for Observers
A practical guide to visual observation of variable stars: estimating magnitudes, finding comparison stars, recording data, and contributing to science with AAVSO.
Article
Carina
Mythology, bright stars, and deep-sky highlights.
Constellation
