Aspidiske is a prominent star in the constellation Car. This relatively faint but reliable star is an Ia red supergiant, a class of stellar objects that have ended their lives in a dramatic and powerful explosion. Its magnitude, recorded as 2.214, designa

The star’s recognisable features lie primarily in its long and exceptionally bright life cycle. Stars of this type, like Aspidiske, are theorized to have formed from dust clouds which collapsed and intensified under immense gravitational forces. Because of their stellar evolution, they are believed to be undergoing a substantial period of change, which contributes to their significant brightness, making this star a treasured target. The star’s consistent and well-documented observations, across several surveys and time scales, make it relatively easily identifiable within its constellation. Furthermore, it's believed to have an exceptionally long history, potentially stretching back several tens of millions of years, reflecting a history involving extreme and regular outbursts of energy.

Given the enduring characteristics and observed characteristics of the star Aspidiske, such a star’s designation might serve as a point of focus for cosmological investigations, a celestial reminder of star formation and stellar evolution. Symbolically it could represent stability, enduring magnitude, and a steady presence in the cosmic fabric – perhaps an enduring symbol of the potential held within each star.

How to see it

Aspidiske has a visual magnitude of about 2.21: under a reasonably dark sky it is typically reachable with the unaided eye.

Sky position

Equatorial coordinates for Aspidiske: right ascension 9h 17m 5s, declination −59° 16′ 31″ (J2000), in the region of the Carina constellation (IAU figure Car).

Carina — Explore by constellation

Catalog context

Aspidiske. It appears in classical and modern catalogs as Bayer/Flamsteed designation Iot Car, HIP 45556, HD 80404, Gaia DR3 5300300156538723328. In the SkyKeepsake Carina (Car) browse hub it sits with other stars of the same IAU figure.

Catalog identifiers

Gaia

Gaia DR3 5300300156538723328

HIP

45556

HD

80404

gaia_dr3

5300300156538723328

Bayer / Flamsteed

Iot Car

Also known as

• Gaia DR3 TOP 5M 5300300156538723328
• HD 80404
• HIP 45556
• Iot Car

Observed properties

Visual magnitude

2.21