Hamal
star · Aries · 2.0ᵐ
Orange star in Aries.
Notable facts
The light you see today left Hamal around the year 1960.
About 39 times brighter than the faintest star visible to the naked eye.
In brief
Which constellation is Hamal in?
Hamal lies in Aries.
Is Hamal visible to the naked eye?
2.0ᵐ — visible to the naked eye (under dark skies).
When is the best time to observe Hamal?
Best observed in October.
Data
- RA / Dec (J2000)
- 2h 07m · +23° 28′
- Type
- star
- Constellation
- Aries
- How to observe
- 2.0ᵐ — visible to the naked eye (under dark skies)
- Spectral class
- K2III — orange star
- Absolute magnitude
- 0.5ᵐ
- Luminosity
- ≈54 × the Sun
- Distance
- ~66 light years
- Designation
- HIP 9884
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° | 53° | 37° |
| +55° | 58° | 46° |
| +45° | 68° | 56° |
| +30° | 83° | 63° |
| 0° | 67° | 67° |
| −35° | 32° | 61° |
Geometric altitude at upper culmination, atmospheric refraction not included. Positive latitudes are in the northern hemisphere.
Culmination time by month
| Month | Culmination |
|---|---|
| January | 18:22 |
| February | 16:14 |
| March | 14:29 |
| April | 12:36 |
| May | 10:41 |
| June | 08:35 |
| July | 06:31 |
| August | 04:30 |
| September | 02:37 |
| October | 00:49 |
| November | 22:48 |
| December | 20:39 |
Upper culmination in local solar time — no time-zone or daylight-saving correction applied.