Rukbat
Rukbat is a small, G-type star situated within the constellation CrA. Its magnitude – a simple number – is 3.95. Approximately 180 light years away, Rukbat possesses a known parallax of 18.11 mas, meaning its distance from Earth is discernible by astronomers. The star’s known distance is a fundamental fact – it exists at 180 light years from us.
Rukbat is recognizable within the night sky as a relatively bright, reddish-orange star, primarily observed in the constellation CrA. These stars offer a captivating visual element amongst the more diffuse groupings of stars present. Its position—specifically its radial velocity—is somewhat anomalous within the observed patterns of the constellation, a noticeable point of observation for those tracking its movement across the cosmos. It's a steady, consistent luminosity suggesting a relatively stable environment for stellar evolution in its current orbit.
While a star's significance often extends beyond simply its physical properties, Rukbat’s presence within the CrA constellation warrants thoughtful consideration regarding its symbolic potential for individuals. It’s easy to see a celestial body – such as a small point of light – as holding a particular meaning in the context of celestial placement.
The categorization of Rukbat as a comparatively modest star in a fairly dispersed region of the cosmos implies a degree of quiet beauty and constancy -- a timeless companion for the observation of the cosmos.
How to see it
Rukbat has a visual magnitude of about 3.95: under a reasonably dark sky it is typically reachable with the unaided eye.
Sky position
Equatorial coordinates for Rukbat: right ascension 19h 23m 53s, declination −40° 36′ 59″ (J2000), in the region of the Corona Australis constellation (IAU figure CrA).
Catalog context
Rukbat. It appears in classical and modern catalogs as Bayer/Flamsteed designation Alp Sgr, HIP 95347, HD 181869, Gaia DR3 6713727061309245952. In the SkyKeepsake Corona Australis (CrA) browse hub it sits with other stars of the same IAU figure.
Catalog identifiers
- Gaia
- Gaia DR3 6713727061309245952
- HIP
- 95347
- HD
- 181869
- gaia_dr3
- 6713727061309245952
- Bayer / Flamsteed
- Alp Sgr
Observed properties
- Visual magnitude
- 3.95