RA 137.1106° · Dec 13.2205° · star
8 more points to reach Rare.
HD 78420 is an uncommon variable star. It lies about 797.4 light-years from Earth, sits in the constellation Cnc, shines at apparent magnitude 9.2 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 HD 78420 in the constellation Cnc. At apparent magnitude 9.2, a small backyard telescope will bring it into view.
Like any astronomical target, HD 78420 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 78420 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 6 science badges — Variable star, On the zodiac, Cool red M-type star, Red dwarf, 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.