RA 204.0347° · Dec -33.4791° · star
1 more point to reach Uncommon.
HD 118238 is a common variable star. It lies about 886.3 light-years from Earth, sits in the constellation Cen, shines at apparent magnitude 9.05 and has spectral type K2IIIp.
Its spectrum reads K2IIIp — a K-type star. Orange K dwarfs are the marathon runners of the galaxy, burning steadily for tens of billions of years.
Look for HD 118238 in the constellation Cen. At apparent magnitude 9.05, a small backyard telescope will bring it into view.
Like any astronomical target, HD 118238 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 118238 scores 21 points on Spacedle's rarity scale, which places it in the common tier. Another 1 point would lift it into a rarer tier.
That score comes from 5 science badges — Variable star, Orange K-type star, Giant 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.