HIP 82256 The Sun

Surface temperature: 3,650 K
Radius: 0.20 × the Sun
Luminosity: 0.006 × the Sun
Spectral type: M

Diagram, not a photograph. Colour from the star’s measured colour index; size from its luminosity and temperature, drawn to one scale with the Sun. Source: HYG stellar database.

Cataloged star · Database record + computed analysis

HIP 82256

A real star from the HYG catalog in the constellation Apus.

51.8 light-years away Apparent magnitude 11.36

M-type: red dwarf

Its spectral type is M: the galaxy's most common stars: small, cool, dim, flare-prone, and able to burn for trillions of years. From its measured color, its surface temperature is roughly 3,649 K (3,376 °C), an estimate computed from the catalog's color index.

How far away is it?

It lies 51.8 light-years away (15.88 parsecs, from its measured parallax), within the Sun's wider neighborhood; its light is only 51.8 years old when it reaches your eye.

How powerful is it?

Its computed luminosity is only 0.00627 of the Sun's output, a modest lamp by stellar standards (derived from its brightness and distance).

Can you see it?

At apparent magnitude 11.36, it is a telescope target only. It favors southern observers.

Everything above is computed from the catalog’s measured values for this star. Where a value is missing, the statement is omitted rather than guessed.

About this record

Data: the HYG stellar database v4.1 (Hipparcos + Yale + Gliese, CC BY-SA, © David Nash / astronexus). Want the full stories? Our deep star guides cover Sirius, Betelgeuse, Proxima Centauri, Vega and three dozen more. You can also browse the catalog or learn how stars live and die.