giant · K1III
Alkes
Alkes is a orange giant (spectral type K1III) about 159 light-years away. With an apparent magnitude of 4.07 it is easy to see with the naked eye under a dark sky.
The alpha star of Crater; the name means "cup".
Its light output is roughly 50 times that of the Sun (a rough estimate in visible light, calculated from brightness and distance).
From Germany (52° N) it rises and sets; it is best seen in the evening in March.
Key facts
- Distance
- ≈ 159 light-years
- Spectral type
- K1III (giant)
- Colour
- Orange
- Apparent magnitude
- 4.07 mag
- Luminosity
- ≈ 50 × Sun
- Position
- Right ascension 10h 60m, declination -18.3°
More well-known stars
Data: Hipparcos / HYG catalogue (CC BY-SA 4.0). Luminosity and visibility are calculated estimates.