Alpha Sextantis
| Observation data Epoch J2000.0 Equinox J2000.0 | |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Sextans |
| Right ascension | 10h 07m 56.3s |
| Declination | −0° 22′ 18″ |
| Apparent magnitude (V) | +4.48 |
| Distance | 287 ± 28 ly (88 ± 8 pc) |
| Spectral type | A0III |
| Other designations | |
Alpha Sextantis (α Sex, α Sextantis) is the brightest star in the constellation Sextans.[1] It is a white A-type giant with an apparent magnitude of +4.48. It is approximately 287 light years from Earth.
Alpha Sextantis is considered an informal "equator star", as it lies less than a quarter of a degree south of the celestial equator.[citation needed] In 1900, it was 7 minutes of arc north of the equator. As a result of movement of the Earth's axial tilt, it crossed over to the Southern Hemisphere in December 1923.[2]
References
- ^ The Internet Encyclopedia of Science Retrieved 24 May, 2009
- ^ Department of Astronomy, University of Illinois Retrieved 24 May, 2009
External links
 | This giant-star-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |