Tau – The star AsteroPE is a significant point of interest within the Tau constellation. It’s relatively close to Earth, placing it in the habitable zone of our solar system. AsteroPE currently appears as a faint, yellow-white star, designated magnitude 5
Star AsteroPE, as a yellow star, plays an important role in visual observation and spectral analysis within the night sky. It is a medium-sized star, with a visual magnitude of 5.752, located about 446.5 light years away from Earth. While its spectral classification offers few precise details – it could be considered a yellow star – its position within the Tau constellation is crucial to its visibility during a casual observation. The star’s relatively high angular velocity (radial velocity of 11.79 km/s) indicates the movement of its components in the night sky, suggesting a stable location. These factors contribute to its noticeable position relative to other stars.
Given its visibility in the Tau constellation, AsteroPE represents a classic example of a star's inherent characteristics and potential for observations. It is a steadily radiating star, of modest visual prominence. The star has recently been characterized with parameters including its Gaia data indicating a relatively stable distance within the solar system. Its relatively nearby proximity to the Milky Way and Andromeda Galaxies, combined with the relatively high physical data available in the catalog provides an optimal location for continued study and analysis. The overall presence of this star contributes significantly to the overall visual landscape within the Tau constellation.
How to see it
Asterope has a visual magnitude of about 5.75: under a reasonably dark sky it is typically reachable with the unaided eye.
Sky position
Equatorial coordinates for Asterope: right ascension 3h 45m 55s, declination +24° 33′ 15″ (J2000), in the region of the Taurus constellation (IAU figure Tau).
Catalog context
Asterope. It appears in classical and modern catalogs as Bayer/Flamsteed designation 21 Tau, HIP 17579, HD 23432, Gaia DR3 66798496781121792. In the SkyKeepsake Taurus (Tau) browse hub it sits with other stars of the same IAU figure.
Catalog identifiers
- Gaia
- Gaia DR3 66798496781121792
- HIP
- 17579
- HD
- 23432
- gaia_dr3
- 66798496781121792
- Bayer / Flamsteed
- 21 Tau
Also known as
- 21 Tau
- Gaia DR3 TOP 5M 66798496781121792
- HD 23432
- HIP 17579
Observed properties
- Visual magnitude
- 5.75