Universe Guide

Asellus Australis (Delta Cancri, 47 Cancri) Star Facts

Asellus Australis Facts

Asellus Australis's Alternative Names


The Id of the star in the Yale Bright Star Catalogue is HR3461. HIP42911 is the reference name for the star in the Hipparcos Star Catalogue. The Id of the star in the Henry Draper catalogue is HD74442.

Asellus Australis has alternative name(s) :- Arkushanangarushashutu.

Flamsteed designations are named after the creator, Sir John Flamsteed. Sir John numbered the stars in the constellation with a number and the latin name, this star's Flamsteed designation is 47 Cancri with it shortened to 47 Cnc.



Location of Asellus Australis


Radial Velocity and Proper Motion of Asellus Australis

Proper Motion

All stars like planets orbit round a central spot, in the case of planets, its the central star such as the Sun. In the case of a star, its the galactic centre. The constellations that we see today will be different than they were 50,000 years ago or 50,000 years from now. Proper Motion details the movements of these stars and are measured in milliarcseconds. The star is moving -229.26 ± 0.12 milliarcseconds/year towards the north and -17.67 ± 0.24 milliarcseconds/year east if we saw them in the horizon.

Radial Velocity


Asellus Australis Luminosity

Luminosity is the amount of energy that a star pumps out and its relative to the amount that our star, the Sun gives out. The figure of 56.12 that I have given is based on the value in the Simbad Hipparcos Extended Catalogue at the University of Strasbourg from 2012.

Physical Properties (Colour, Temperature) of Asellus Australis

Asellus Australis Colour and Temperature

Asellus Australis has a spectral type of K0III. This means the star is a orange to red giant star. The star has a B-V Colour Index of 1.08 which means the star's temperature has been calculated using information from Morgans @ Uni.edu at being 4,700 Kelvin.

Asellus Australis Radius

Radius has been calculated as being 9.57 times bigger than the Sun. The Sun's radius is 695,800km, therefore the star's radius is an estimated 6,655,548.73.km. If you need the diameter of the star, you just need to multiple the radius by 2. However with the 2007 release of updated Hipparcos files, the radius is now calculated at being round 9.18. The figure is derived at by using the formula from SDSS and has been known to produce widely incorrect figures. The star's Iron Abundance is -0.03 with an error value of 0.03 Fe/H with the Sun has a value of 1 to put it into context.

Asellus Australis Apparent and Absolute Magnitudes

Asellus Australis has an apparent magnitude of 3.94 which is how bright we see the star from Earth. Apparent Magnitude is also known as Visual Magnitude. If you used the 1997 Parallax value, you would get an absolute magnitude of 0.84 If you used the 2007 Parallax value, you would get an absolute magnitude of 0.93. Magnitude, whether it be apparent/visual or absolute magnitude is measured by a number, the smaller the number, the brighter the Star is. Our own Sun is the brightest star and therefore has the lowest of all magnitudes, -26.74. A faint star will have a high number.

Distance to Asellus Australis

Using the original Hipparcos data that was released in 1997, the parallax to the star was given as 23.97 which gave the calculated distance to Asellus Australis as 136.07 light years away from Earth or 41.72 parsecs. It would take a spaceship travelling at the speed of light, 136.07 years to get there. We don't have the technology or spaceship that can carry people over that distance yet.

In 2007, Hipparcos data was revised with a new parallax of 24.98 which put Asellus Australis at a distance of 130.57 light years or 40.03 parsecs. It should not be taken as though the star is moving closer or further away from us. It is purely that the distance was recalculated.

Using the 2007 distance, the star is roughly 8,256,722.66 Astronomical Units from the Earth/Sun give or take a few. An Astronomical Unit is the distance between Earth and the Sun. The number of A.U. is the number of times that the star is from the Earth compared to the Sun.


Meteor Showers Radiating from near Asellus Australis

The Northern delta Cancrids Meteor Shower radiants from a point near this star. The meteor shower runs typically between with a peak date of 16th January. The speed of a meteor in the shower is 27 Km/s.


Source of Information


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Additional Asellus Australis Facts and Figures

Visual Facts

Primary / Proper / Traditional NameAsellus Australis
Alternative NamesDelta Cancri, Del Cnc, Arkushanangarushashutu, HD 74442, HIP 42911, HR 3461, 47 Cancri, 47 Cnc, BD+18 2027
Spectral TypeK0III
Constellation's Main StarYes
Multiple Star SystemYes
Star TypeGiant Star
ColourOrange to Red
GalaxyMilky Way
Absolute Magnitude 0.84 / 0.93
Visual / Apparent Magnitude3.94
Naked Eye VisibleYes - Magnitudes
Right Ascension (R.A.)08h 44m 41.11
Declination (Dec.)+18° 09` 17.5
Galactic Latitude32.90 degrees
Galactic Longitude208.03 degrees
1997 Distance from Earth23.97 Parallax (milliarcseconds)
 136.07 Light Years
 41.72 Parsecs
2007 Distance from Earth24.98 Parallax (milliarcseconds)
 130.57 Light Years
 40.03 Parsecs
 8,256,722.66 Astronomical Units
Galacto-Centric Distance24,233.94 Light Years / 7,430.00 Parsecs
Proper Motion Dec.-229.26 ± 0.12 milliarcseconds/year
Proper Motion RA.-17.67 ± 0.24 milliarcseconds/year
B-V Index1.08
Radial Velocity17.14 ± 0.19 km/s
Iron Abundance-0.03 ± 0.03 Fe/H
Semi-Major Axis5614.00
Stellar Luminosity (Lsun)56.12

Companions (Multi-Star and Exoplanets) Facts

Exoplanet CountNone/Unaware

Estimated Calculated Facts

Radius (x the Sun)9.18
Effective Temperature4,700 Kelvin

Sources and Links

SIMBAD SourceLink

Multi-Star System


Proper Motion mas/yr
H.D. IdB.D. IdStar CodeMagnitudeR.A.Dec.SpectrumColourYear
74442+18 2027.0A4.20000-17.00000-233.00000K0Orange

Location of Asellus Australis in Cancer

Asellus Australis Location in Cancer


Cancer Main Stars

Comments and Questions



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