RA 129.2325° · Dec 23.2467° · star
4 more points to reach Uncommon.
HIP 42253 is a common variable star. It lies about 143.7 light-years from Earth, sits in the constellation Cnc, shines at apparent magnitude 8.73 and has spectral type K5.
Its spectrum reads K5 — 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 42253 in the constellation Cnc. At apparent magnitude 8.73, it is an easy target for binoculars.
Like any astronomical target, HIP 42253 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 42253 scores 18 points on Spacedle's rarity scale, which places it in the common tier. Another 4 points would lift it into a rarer tier.
That score comes from 5 science badges — Variable star, On the zodiac, 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.