Alkes
star · Crater · 4.1ᵐ
Orange star in Crater. It lies about 159 light years from Earth. In visible light it shines roughly 47 times as bright as the Sun.
Notable facts
The light you see today left Alkes around the year 1867.
About 6 times brighter than the faintest star visible to the naked eye.
In brief
Which constellation is Alkes in?
Alkes lies in Crater.
Is Alkes visible to the naked eye?
4.1ᵐ — visible to the naked eye (under dark skies).
When is the best time to observe Alkes?
Best observed in March.
Data
- RA / Dec (J2000)
- 11h 00m · −18° 18′
- Type
- star
- Constellation
- Crater
- How to observe
- 4.1ᵐ — visible to the naked eye (under dark skies)
- Spectral class
- K1III — orange star
- Absolute magnitude
- 0.6ᵐ
- Luminosity (visual)
- ≈47 × the Sun
- Distance
- ~159 light years
- Designation
- HIP 53740
Observing tip
Stars stay points at any magnification: aim your telescope for colour, brightness and companions, not detail.
Altitude above the horizon by latitude
| Latitude | Maximum altitude | Rise azimuth |
|---|---|---|
| +60° | 12° | 129° |
| +55° | 17° | 123° |
| +45° | 27° | 116° |
| +30° | 42° | 111° |
| 0° | 72° | 108° |
| −35° | 73° | 113° |
Geometric altitude at upper culmination, atmospheric refraction not included. Positive latitudes are in the northern hemisphere.
Culmination time by month
| Month | Culmination |
|---|---|
| January | 03:14 |
| February | 01:07 |
| March | 23:22 |
| April | 21:28 |
| May | 19:34 |
| June | 17:28 |
| July | 15:24 |
| August | 13:23 |
| September | 11:30 |
| October | 09:41 |
| November | 07:40 |
| December | 05:32 |
Upper culmination in local solar time — no time-zone or daylight-saving correction applied.