RA 274.8409° · Dec -15.6128° · star
28 more points to reach Anomaly.
HD 168227 is an epic variable star. It lies about 2,265 light-years from Earth, sits in the constellation Ser, shines at apparent magnitude 8.43 and has spectral type C.
Its spectrum reads C — a carbon star, wrapped in so much soot that its light is filtered to a deep ruby red.
Look for HD 168227 in the constellation Ser. At apparent magnitude 8.43, it is an easy target for binoculars.
Like any astronomical target, HD 168227 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.
HD 168227 scores 50 points on Spacedle's rarity scale, which places it in the epic tier. Another 28 points would lift it into a rarer tier.
That score comes from 6 science badges — Variable star, Distant (over 1,000 light-years), Carbon star (sooty red), Deep red star, 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.