Taiyi: A Star in UMi
Taiyi is a small, blue-white star within the constellation UMi, located approximately 96.02 light years away from Earth. Its catalog number is 8 Dra, and it exhibits a visual magnitude of 5.145. The star’s distance is 96.02 light years, and its parallax is 33.97 mas. Taiyi’s proper motion data reveals a slow but consistent drift relative to the fixed stars, measured in 3.658 mas per year. These measurements have placed it at a distance of 85.26 light years from Earth.
Taiyi is recognisable in the sky through its unique spectral type – a yellowish tint, not consistent with the broader classification as a giant or main sequence star. Despite these missing characteristics, its brightness is consistently significant. Its location in the UMi constellation suggests it represents a relatively low-level population of stars in the system. It is a relatively humble star in comparison to many others in its region.
The choice of Taiyi as a symbolic dedication speaks to a sense of groundedness, perhaps reflecting a desire for constancy. It's a star that demands and offers a steadfast point of comparison, acting as a grounding element within a larger cosmos. While the physical properties of Taiyi itself aren’t particularly dramatic—it is unlikely to hold significant visual interest—it serves as a neutral marker. It embodies a sense of enduring stillness.
How to see it
Taiyi has a visual magnitude of about 5.15: under a reasonably dark sky it is typically reachable with the unaided eye.
Sky position
Equatorial coordinates for Taiyi: right ascension 12h 55m 29s, declination +65° 26′ 18″ (J2000), in the region of the Ursa Minor constellation (IAU figure UMi).
Catalog context
Taiyi. It appears in classical and modern catalogs as Bayer/Flamsteed designation 8 Dra, HIP 63076, HD 112429, Gaia DR3 1677302170674242560. In the SkyKeepsake Ursa Minor (UMi) browse hub it sits with other stars of the same IAU figure.
Catalog identifiers
- Gaia
- Gaia DR3 1677302170674242560
- HIP
- 63076
- HD
- 112429
- gaia_dr3
- 1677302170674242560
- Bayer / Flamsteed
- 8 Dra
Also known as
- 8 Dra
- Gaia DR3 TOP 5M 1677302170674242560
- HD 112429
- HIP 63076
Observed properties
- Visual magnitude
- 5.15