RA 104.3224° · Dec 41.1177° · star
8 more points to reach Rare.
HD 50949 is an uncommon variable star. It sits in the constellation Aur, shines at apparent magnitude 9.8 and has spectral type R6pv.
Its spectrum reads R6pv — a carbon star, wrapped in so much soot that its light is filtered to a deep ruby red.
Look for HD 50949 in the constellation Aur. At apparent magnitude 9.8, a small backyard telescope will bring it into view.
Like any astronomical target, HD 50949 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 50949 scores 26 points on Spacedle's rarity scale, which places it in the uncommon tier. Another 8 points would lift it into a rarer tier.
That score comes from 4 science badges — Variable star, Deep red star, Strongly 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.