RA 124.1952° · Dec 40.1314° · star
3 more points to reach Epic.
HIP 40546 is a rare variable star. It lies about 151.5 light-years from Earth, sits in the constellation Lyn, shines at apparent magnitude 11.81 and has spectral type M6.
Its spectrum reads M6 — 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 40546 in the constellation Lyn. At apparent magnitude 11.81, a small backyard telescope will bring it into view.
Like any astronomical target, HIP 40546 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 40546 scores 47 points on Spacedle's rarity scale, which places it in the rare tier. Another 3 points would lift it into a rarer tier.
That score comes from 6 science badges — Variable star, Cool red M-type star, Deep red star, Red dwarf, Dramatic variable (over 2 magnitudes) 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.