Electra
star · Taurus · 3.7ᵐ
Blue-white star in Taurus. It lies about 405 light years from Earth. In visible light it shines roughly 430 times as bright as the Sun.
Notable facts
The light you see today left Electra around the year 1621.
About 8 times brighter than the faintest star visible to the naked eye.
In brief
Which constellation is Electra in?
Electra lies in Taurus.
Is Electra visible to the naked eye?
3.7ᵐ — visible to the naked eye (under dark skies).
When is the best time to observe Electra?
Best observed in November.
Data
- RA / Dec (J2000)
- 3h 45m · +24° 07′
- Type
- star
- Constellation
- Taurus
- How to observe
- 3.7ᵐ — visible to the naked eye (under dark skies)
- Spectral class
- B6III — blue-white star
- Absolute magnitude
- -1.8ᵐ
- Luminosity (visual)
- ≈430 × the Sun
- Distance
- ~405 light years
- Designation
- HIP 17499
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 | 19:59 |
| February | 17:52 |
| March | 16:07 |
| April | 14:13 |
| May | 12:19 |
| June | 10:13 |
| July | 08:09 |
| August | 06:08 |
| September | 04:15 |
| October | 02:26 |
| November | 00:26 |
| December | 22:17 |
Upper culmination in local solar time — no time-zone or daylight-saving correction applied.