RA 172.1878° · Dec 49.5590° · star
7 more points to reach Rare.
HIP 56012 is an uncommon variable star. It lies about 886.3 light-years from Earth, sits in the constellation UMa, shines at apparent magnitude 9.64 and has spectral type M8.
Its spectrum reads M8 — 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 56012 in the constellation UMa. At apparent magnitude 9.64, a small backyard telescope will bring it into view.
Like any astronomical target, HIP 56012 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 56012 scores 27 points on Spacedle's rarity scale, which places it in the uncommon tier. Another 7 points would lift it into a rarer tier.
That score comes from 6 science badges — Variable star, Never sets (northern circumpolar), 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.