Shimu is a captivating blue-white star, positioned within the constellation And. It is a variable star of magnitude 3.76, appearing relatively conservatively within our observational datasets. This means it maintains a stable and relatively narrow “magnit
Shimu is particularly recognizable because it’s a Sirius analogue - a bright star that frequently displays a distinctive, elliptical pattern across the sky. The star’s luminosity is consistent, indicating a mature stellar lifespan, and its colour profile leans towards a pale blue-white. While some star charts might categorize it as a “yellow giant," observations reveal an average surface temperature of around 4400 K, implying an spectral type of similar to a “white” star; a common setting for red giant stars in our universe. The star is an important celestial point because it appears a considerable distance in the night sky from Earth.
The significance of Shimu to a human might be tied to a symbolic, somewhat poetic, intention to connect with something ancient and still powerfully visible. The relatively low magnitude of Shimu suggests it may represent a cornerstone, a dependable light source, or a beacon of hope and stability amongst a vast darkness. It asks questions of observation, of remembering and observing from a historical perspective, and of the lasting light of the universe.
How to see it
Shimu has a visual magnitude of about 3.76: under a reasonably dark sky it is typically reachable with the unaided eye.
Sky position
Equatorial coordinates for Shimu: right ascension 0h 47m 20s, declination +24° 16′ 1″ (J2000), in the region of the Andromeda constellation (IAU figure And).
Catalog context
Shimu. It appears in classical and modern catalogs as Bayer/Flamsteed designation 34Zet And, HIP 3693, HD 4502, Gaia DR3 2804918316384272128. In the SkyKeepsake Andromeda (And) browse hub it sits with other stars of the same IAU figure.
Catalog identifiers
- Gaia
- Gaia DR3 2804918316384272128
- HIP
- 3693
- HD
- 4502
- gaia_dr3
- 2804918316384272128
- Bayer / Flamsteed
- 34Zet And
Observed properties
- Visual magnitude
- 3.76