RA 281.1049° · Dec -13.2132° · star
6 more points to reach Epic.
HD 173138 is a rare variable star. It sits in the constellation Sct, shines at apparent magnitude 9.75 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 173138 in the constellation Sct. At apparent magnitude 9.75, a small backyard telescope will bring it into view.
Like any astronomical target, HD 173138 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 173138 scores 44 points on Spacedle's rarity scale, which places it in the rare tier. Another 6 points would lift it into a rarer tier.
That score comes from 5 science badges — Variable star, 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.