Ross 687 is a red dwarf star located within the constellation Cancrio. It’s easily identifiable as a relatively bright star – its magnitude of 11.55 is considered quite noticeable against the darkness of space. The star’s official designation within celes
Ross 687’s appearance in the sky is particularly prominent for its relative proximity to the Milky Way’s central axis. Its small size, compared to other bright stars of similar magnitudes, allows for its easily detectable presence, rendering it one of the more commonly identified targets for astronomers observing from Earth. The star itself is believed to be a red dwarf, characterized by a lower surface temperature and significantly lower luminance compared to other stars of similar mass, largely due to its smaller size and its location within the galactic halo. Observations suggest a period of relatively constant brightness.
For those dedicating a moment of quiet reflection to the night, Ross 687 offers a singular point of focus for those contemplating the immense scale of the cosmos. It represents one instance – a distant spark – of a constantly repeating pattern of star formation, a pale glow that persists through billions of years of cosmic evolution. The precise calculations regarding its orbit and movement, as detailed through Gaia observations, provide evidence of a significant, albeit subtle, rotation – a pale flicker of movement across the galactic plane. It stands out, perhaps more as an almost eternal beacon than as an actively shining celestial body.
How to see it
Ross 687 has a visual magnitude of about 11.55: it is very faint and needs a capable telescope (or deep imaging) to resolve.
Sky position
Equatorial coordinates for Ross 687: right ascension 9h 0m 50s, declination +5° 14′ 26″ (J2000), in the region of the Cancer constellation (IAU figure Cnc).
Catalog context
Ross 687. It appears in classical and modern catalogs as HIP 44263, Gaia DR3 583257319006770176. In the SkyKeepsake Cancer (Cnc) browse hub it sits with other stars of the same IAU figure.
Catalog identifiers
- Gaia
- Gaia DR3 583257319006770176
- HIP
- 44263
- gaia_dr3
- 583257319006770176
Also known as
- Gaia DR3 TOP 5M 583257319006770176
- Gl 333.2B
- HIP 44263
Observed properties
- Visual magnitude
- 11.55