RA 310.7508° · Dec 26.8094° · star
7 more points to reach Uncommon.
HIP 102238 is a common variable star. It lies about 212.6 light-years from Earth, sits in the constellation Vul, shines at apparent magnitude 10.79 and has spectral type K3.
Its spectrum reads K3 — a K-type star. Orange K dwarfs are the marathon runners of the galaxy, burning steadily for tens of billions of years.
Look for HIP 102238 in the constellation Vul. At apparent magnitude 10.79, a small backyard telescope will bring it into view.
Like any astronomical target, HIP 102238 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 102238 scores 15 points on Spacedle's rarity scale, which places it in the common tier. Another 7 points would lift it into a rarer tier.
That score comes from 4 science badges — Variable star, Orange K-type 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.