SkyKeepsake page about the star Aniara.
Aniara is a relatively new star in the Ursa Minor constellation. Cataloged as UMa, it lies approximately 399 light years away and has a visual magnitude of 7.619. This relatively low magnitude places it as a notable object for observers. It’s currently a red dwarf, and its spectral type appears consistent with a very low luminosity. Aniara orbits the central axis of the constellation, providing a relatively stable system.
The recognition of Aniara within the sky stems primarily from its apparent brightness, which is relatively high compared to the surrounding stars. This heightened luminosity allows for easy identification to observers situated in a relatively small region of the sky. Furthermore, Aniara exhibits characteristics consistent with a red dwarf star – it has a modest radial velocity, suggesting it is drifting slowly within the galaxy. Its proximity to the Ursa Minor centre gives it good opportunity for observation, even at relatively small viewing angles.
While the vastness of space and the sheer number of stars make it difficult to place Aniara specifically as a 'symbol,' its steady, if modestly luminous, existence represents a point of focused observation within the larger galaxy. It’s a steady, consistent celestial point of interest that invites quiet contemplation, subtly reminding us of time's slow passage.
How to see it
Aniara has a visual magnitude of about 7.62: it usually needs binoculars or a small telescope, especially from light-polluted sites.
Sky position
Equatorial coordinates for Aniara: right ascension 11h 51m 22s, declination +57° 38′ 26″ (J2000), in the region of the Ursa Major constellation (IAU figure UMa).
Catalog context
Aniara. It appears in classical and modern catalogs as HIP 57820, HD 102956, Gaia DR3 845335158256083584. In the SkyKeepsake Ursa Major (UMa) browse hub it sits with other stars of the same IAU figure.
Catalog identifiers
- Gaia
- Gaia DR3 845335158256083584
- HIP
- 57820
- HD
- 102956
- gaia_dr3
- 845335158256083584
Also known as
- Gaia DR3 TOP 5M 845335158256083584
- HD 102956
- HIP 57820
Observed properties
- Visual magnitude
- 7.62