Tri
Beléno is a small, faint, and remarkably bright equatorial star within the Tri constellation. It’s a red dwarf star located roughly 146 light years away in the night sky. Its estimated magnitude, though low, allows for easy identification through relatively simple visual observation.
The recognisable qualities of Bélénos stem primarily from its placement within the Tri constellation. It’s a member of the dense stellar nursery region around the galactic core. Sirius is easily recognizable as the brightest star in the night sky. The star possesses a relatively consistent luminosity, indicating a lower effective temperature compared to many other stars, which may cause it to appear a paler shade of yellow to blue. Given its relative proximity to Earth, Bélénéno was frequently observed for its apparent movement, though it doesn’t exhibit a noticeable, consistent deviation.
There’s a historical reason for a fascination with Bélénos. Historically, astronomers and enthusiasts across different cultures have taken notice and placed significance to this comparatively bright and unobscured star. Historically, these stars are not associated with any specific mythology or religious narrative, only a simple pattern and glow – a constant presence watching over an otherwise dark void - a reminder of the expansive beauty of the cosmos and a beacon, for the curious to witness.
How to see it
Bélénos has a visual magnitude of about 7.00: it usually needs binoculars or a small telescope, especially from light-polluted sites.
Sky position
Equatorial coordinates for Bélénos: right ascension 1h 25m 13s, declination +28° 33′ 58″ (J2000), in the region of the Triangulum constellation (IAU figure Tri).
Catalog context
Bélénos. It appears in classical and modern catalogs as HIP 6643, HD 8574, Gaia DR3 297045096447719040. In the SkyKeepsake Triangulum (Tri) browse hub it sits with other stars of the same IAU figure.
Catalog identifiers
- Gaia
- Gaia DR3 297045096447719040
- HIP
- 6643
- HD
- 8574
- gaia_dr3
- 297045096447719040
Also known as
- Gaia DR3 TOP 5M 297045096447719040
- HD 8574
- HIP 6643
Observed properties
- Visual magnitude
- 7.00