Crv – Gienah

Gienah is a radiant, orange-hued star located within the Crab Nebula constellation, a remnant of a supernova explosion. Scientifically it’s classified as a G2 dwarf star – a low-surface temperature star – positioned approximately 7,500 light-years from Earth. Its magnitude, measured using its brightness, is relatively low, making it difficult to observe easily. Gienah's visual magnitude is currently recorded as 2.58. Coordinates for Gienah place it in the celestial coordinates RA 183.9516°, Dec -17.5419°, making it a relatively faint point in the southern sky. It's associated with the Crv constellation by the astronomers who originally cataloged it. As a G2 dwarf, Gienah has a relatively modest size, only about 0.75 times the diameter of the Sun and produces a negligible amount of light. It's a relatively stable star, though lacking the powerful winds and magnetic fields that would drastically alter its color and shape, remaining within a spectrum consistent with a yellow appearance.

The relative visibility of Gienah is currently being investigated due to its position within the Crab Nebula, a complex region of interstellar space. Within that region, it participates in a galactic core of faint, old stars, offering a fascinating glimpse into the early stages of star formation. It may offer a visual link to a relatively ancient stellar population, subtly influencing the light patterns reflecting across the sky for those looking closely. Its spectral analysis remains largely unknown, as the data collected is limited, and the exact composition of the star's atmosphere is not yet attainable. While providing relatively little brightness, it plays an influential, if subtle, role, contributing towards the overall depth and color of this area.

How to see it

Gienah has a visual magnitude of about 2.58: under a reasonably dark sky it is typically reachable with the unaided eye.

Sky position

Equatorial coordinates for Gienah: right ascension 12h 15m 48s, declination −17° 32′ 31″ (J2000), in the region of the Corvus constellation (IAU figure Crv).

Corvus — Explore by constellation

Catalog context

Gienah. It appears in classical and modern catalogs as Bayer/Flamsteed designation 4Gam Crv, HIP 59803, HD 106625, Gaia DR3 HYG-HIP-59803. In the SkyKeepsake Corvus (Crv) browse hub it sits with other stars of the same IAU figure.

Catalog identifiers

Gaia

Gaia DR3 HYG-HIP-59803

HIP

59803

HD

106625

gaia_dr3

HYG-HIP-59803

Bayer / Flamsteed

4Gam Crv

Also known as

• 4Gam Crv
• Gaia DR3 TOP 5M HYG-HIP-59803
• HD 106625
• HIP 59803
• HYG-HIP-59803

Observed properties

Visual magnitude

2.58