Atlas
star · Taurus · 3.6ᵐ
Blue-white star in Taurus. It lies about 382 light years from Earth. In visible light it shines roughly 420 times as bright as the Sun.
Notable facts
The light you see today left Atlas around the year 1644.
About 9 times brighter than the faintest star visible to the naked eye.
In brief
Which constellation is Atlas in?
Atlas lies in Taurus.
Is Atlas visible to the naked eye?
3.6ᵐ — visible to the naked eye (under dark skies).
When is the best time to observe Atlas?
Best observed in November.
Data
- RA / Dec (J2000)
- 3h 49m · +24° 03′
- Type
- star
- Constellation
- Taurus
- How to observe
- 3.6ᵐ — visible to the naked eye (under dark skies)
- Spectral class
- B8III — blue-white star
- Absolute magnitude
- -1.7ᵐ
- Luminosity (visual)
- ≈420 × the Sun
- Distance
- ~382 light years
- Designation
- HIP 17847
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° | 54° | 35° |
| +55° | 59° | 45° |
| +45° | 69° | 55° |
| +30° | 84° | 62° |
| 0° | 66° | 66° |
| −35° | 31° | 60° |
Geometric altitude at upper culmination, atmospheric refraction not included. Positive latitudes are in the northern hemisphere.
Culmination time by month
| Month | Culmination |
|---|---|
| January | 20:04 |
| February | 17:56 |
| March | 16:11 |
| April | 14:18 |
| May | 12:23 |
| June | 10:17 |
| July | 08:13 |
| August | 06:12 |
| September | 04:19 |
| October | 02:31 |
| November | 00:30 |
| December | 22:21 |
Upper culmination in local solar time — no time-zone or daylight-saving correction applied.