Lacaille 8760
This star, officially designated Lacaille 8760, is a relatively small, red dwarf star located within the constellation Mic. It’s considered to be relatively close to the celestial pole, suggesting it is likely a very long-lived component in the Milky Way. Its estimated brightness and visual magnitude is 5.984, placing it in the category of dwarfs. Although the catalog data is limited, it's identifiable within our sky as a variable star.
Its recognizable connection to the night sky originates from Sirius, the brightest star in the constellation Cassiopeia. Sirius’ exceptionally prominent location and exceptionally clear visibility in the winter months makes this star a focal point within the constellation and, for many stargazers, a potent symbolic representation of the brightest light. The star’s position is crucial for observing astronomical phenomena related to the precession of the equinoxes.
Considering its spectral type, Lacaille 8760 appears to be a low-luminosity variable star. Observations show a slight change in its brightness over time, influencing measurements of its distance, particularly regarding its proper motion and radial velocity. Due to its relatively young age and position within the Milky Way, it is likely a significant relic of earlier stellar activity, and provides a window into the processes leading to the formation of planetary systems, or even the genesis of large, globular objects.
The catalog data, though sparse, identifies it primarily as an intrinsic stellar object without any established theoretical association linked to a celestial setting or concept. It’s a gentle, stable star, representing a steady point of light within the expansive universe, emphasizing the gradual and consistent interplay of stars and space.
How to see it
Lacaille 8760 has a visual magnitude of about 5.98: under a reasonably dark sky it is typically reachable with the unaided eye.
Sky position
Equatorial coordinates for Lacaille 8760: right ascension 21h 17m 11s, declination −38° 52′ 21″ (J2000), in the region of the Microscopium constellation (IAU figure Mic).
Catalog context
Lacaille 8760. It appears in classical and modern catalogs as HIP 105090, HD 202560, Gaia DR3 6583272171336048640. In the SkyKeepsake Microscopium (Mic) browse hub it sits with other stars of the same IAU figure.
Catalog identifiers
- Gaia
- Gaia DR3 6583272171336048640
- HIP
- 105090
- HD
- 202560
- gaia_dr3
- 6583272171336048640
Also known as
- Gaia DR3 TOP 5M 6583272171336048640
- Gl 825
- HD 202560
- HIP 105090
Observed properties
- Visual magnitude
- 5.98