SkyKeepake Memory – Merga
Merga is a relatively faint, medium-sized, and relatively solitary star within the Boo constellation. It has a Magnitude of 5.645, placing it firmly in the “bright” portion of the night sky for most observing stations. The star is currently estimated to be 156.6 light years away from Earth. Its radial velocity is a small, consistent value of -5.004 km/s, suggesting a slow, stable movement that doesn't significantly alter its position relative to background stars.
The star’s visibility in the sky owes a lot to its position within the Boo constellation. It appears as a modest star, easily found even with relatively large apertures and relatively clear skies. It has always provided a stable light source in a wide section of the night sky. As a medium-sized star, it’s frequently observed during the autumnal and winter months as a companion to other stars, though not to a massive extent. Because of its brightness and proximity, Merga's relatively consistent position makes it a good celestial candidate for charting and observation.
While a detailed spectral type assignment is limited, Merga likely exhibits characteristics consistent with a relatively cool, yellowish color. Its positioning as a primary, relatively stable star within Boo certainly gives it a position where it is easy to recognize. Merga’s presence offers a straightforward and consistent marker in the observational field, often a comforting point of reference for navigating the cosmos.
How to see it
Merga has a visual magnitude of about 5.65: under a reasonably dark sky it is typically reachable with the unaided eye.
Sky position
Equatorial coordinates for Merga: right ascension 14h 49m 19s, declination +46° 6′ 57″ (J2000), in the region of the Boötes constellation (IAU figure Boo).
Catalog context
Merga. It appears in classical and modern catalogs as Bayer/Flamsteed designation 38 Boo, HIP 72487, HD 130945, Gaia DR3 1589840624889560576. In the SkyKeepsake Boötes (Boo) browse hub it sits with other stars of the same IAU figure.
Catalog identifiers
- Gaia
- Gaia DR3 1589840624889560576
- HIP
- 72487
- HD
- 130945
- gaia_dr3
- 1589840624889560576
- Bayer / Flamsteed
- 38 Boo
Also known as
- 38 Boo
- Gaia DR3 TOP 5M 1589840624889560576
- HD 130945
- HIP 72487
Observed properties
- Visual magnitude
- 5.65