giant · K0III
Menkent
Menkent is a orange giant (spectral type K0III) about 59 light-years away. With an apparent magnitude of 2.06 it is easy to see even from a city.
A star in Centaurus, at the shoulder of the mythical figure.
Its light output is roughly 40 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 April.
Key facts
- Distance
- ≈ 59 light-years
- Spectral type
- K0III (giant)
- Colour
- Orange
- Apparent magnitude
- 2.06 mag
- Luminosity
- ≈ 40 × Sun
- Position
- Right ascension 14h 7m, declination -36.4°
More well-known stars
Data: Hipparcos / HYG catalogue (CC BY-SA 4.0). Luminosity and visibility are calculated estimates.