RA 228.7627° · Dec 18.0479° · star
11 more points to reach Rare.
HIP 74642 is an uncommon variable star. It lies about 732.9 light-years from Earth, sits in the constellation Ser, shines at apparent magnitude 9.27 and has spectral type M2.
Its spectrum reads M2 — an M-type red star — and M stars are the silent majority: roughly three of every four stars in the galaxy are one.
Look for HIP 74642 in the constellation Ser. At apparent magnitude 9.27, a small backyard telescope will bring it into view.
Like any astronomical target, HIP 74642 is best seen from a dark site away from city lights, and when it is above the horizon depends on your latitude and the time of year. The visibility panel above works out tonight's viewing window for your saved location.
HIP 74642 scores 23 points on Spacedle's rarity scale, which places it in the uncommon tier. Another 11 points would lift it into a rarer tier.
That score comes from 5 science badges — Variable star, Cool red M-type star, Red dwarf, Gently variable and A named variable star — each earned for a real, measurable property of the object. Rarity on Spacedle is never random: the more remarkable an object's astrophysics, the more badges it collects, the higher it scores, and the rarer it ranks.