Menkalinan (34Bet Aur) — Auriga · Gaia DR3 HYG-HIP-28360

Menkalinan is a relatively young, bright, and unique star within the Aur constellation within the constellation Ursa Major. It is known as a red supergiant, marking its unique existence in this area of the galaxy. Currently, it’s designated as Magnitude 1

Menkalinan’s significance stems from its position within a system of nearby stars, specifically the Ursa Minor system. It's unusually large, compared to stars with similar spectral type in its region of the galaxy. Its relatively recent stellar evolution makes it an attractive target for astronomical observation, offering insight to how this star formed and evolved.

The star is recognizable within the sky due to its relatively high luminosity for this type of star. While no specific colour or spectral type can be assigned without detailed analysis, it exhibits a strong red hue consistent with the characteristics of a supergiant. It also possesses a significant offset from its neighboring stars within the Ursa Major system, offering a potential point for detailed analysis of its formation and migration patterns, perhaps suggesting a close connection to earlier stellar populations within the region.

The relatively young appearance of Menkalinan, compared to some other red supergiants in the star field, may imply it's a product of recent stellar processing – likely influencing its current stability.

How to see it

Menkalinan has a visual magnitude of about 1.90: under a reasonably dark sky it is typically reachable with the unaided eye.

Sky position

Equatorial coordinates for Menkalinan: right ascension 5h 59m 32s, declination +44° 56′ 51″ (J2000), in the region of the Auriga constellation (IAU figure Aur).

Auriga — Explore by constellation

Catalog context

Menkalinan. It appears in classical and modern catalogs as Bayer/Flamsteed designation 34Bet Aur, HIP 28360, HD 40183, Gaia DR3 HYG-HIP-28360. In the SkyKeepsake Auriga (Aur) browse hub it sits with other stars of the same IAU figure.

Catalog identifiers

Gaia: Gaia DR3 HYG-HIP-28360
HIP: 28360
HD: 40183
gaia_dr3: HYG-HIP-28360
Bayer / Flamsteed: 34Bet Aur

Also known as

Observed properties

Visual magnitude: 1.90