Cir, a distinct and ancient constellation, holds a cherished place amongst amateur astronomers. Located in the constellation Cir, Toliman is a relatively young star – a bright, orange-hued variable star, firmly established as a component of this impressiv
Toliman is celebrated due to its significance as a pivotal landmark within the Cir constellation, specifically for its apparent brightness across long-distance measurements. The star's consistent, albeit gentle, variations in its luminosity, while not exceptionally dramatic, are easily detectable by celestial observers, and have long been used as an indicator for mapping out the vast distances in the cosmos. It serves as a vital point of reference and a cornerstone in historical observations regarding the arrangement of the stars.
Given its visibility, Toliman has garnered a considerable degree of recognition amongst amateur stargazers. It isn’t, however, a rare star – rather, it operates within a constellation known for many stars that may be difficult to discern against some backdrop. A dedicated observer would likely observe it across the relatively wide-ranging area of the Cir constellation, tracking how the ‘Alp2Cen’ stars in this system gradually shift in their positions, and are thus useful for tracking objects in the constellation Cir over many years .
How to see it
Toliman has a visual magnitude of about 20.95: it is very faint and needs a capable telescope (or deep imaging) to resolve.
Sky position
Equatorial coordinates for Toliman: right ascension 14h 39m 39s, declination −60° 50′ 22″ (J2000), in the region of the Circinus constellation (IAU figure Cir).
Catalog context
Toliman. It appears in classical and modern catalogs as Bayer/Flamsteed designation Alp2Cen, HIP 71681, HD 128621, Gaia DR3 5877748442128924672. In the SkyKeepsake Circinus (Cir) browse hub it sits with other stars of the same IAU figure.
Catalog identifiers
- Gaia
- Gaia DR3 5877748442128924672
- HIP
- 71681
- HD
- 128621
- gaia_dr3
- 5877748442128924672
- Bayer / Flamsteed
- Alp2Cen
Also known as
- Alp2Cen
- Gaia DR3 5877748442128924544
- Gaia DR3 TOP 5M 5877748442128924672
- Gl 559B
- HD 128621
- HIP 71681
Observed properties
- Visual magnitude
- 20.95