Libertas
Libertas (ξ Aquilae) is a yellow supergiant star in the constellation Aquila. With an apparent magnitude of 4.71 it is the 1138th-brightest star in the night sky, and it is about 186 light-years from Earth.
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Facts
| Constellation | Aquila |
|---|---|
| Designation | ξ Aquilae (Xi Aquilae), HR 7595 |
| Apparent magnitude | 4.71 (1138th brightest) |
| Spectral type | G9+IIIb |
| Color | yellow (B−V 1.05) |
| Distance | about 186 light-years |
| Right ascension | 19 h 54.2 min |
| Declination | +8.46° |
| Best month | September (at about 9 pm) |
How to find Libertas
Libertas is in Aquila. From 40° N it is highest in the south in September evenings, about 58° above the horizon. From 35° S it reaches about 47° in the north. Nearby bright stars: Altair (1° away), Enif (27° away) and Aljanah (28° away).
Where on Earth can you see Libertas?
Libertas is best seen in the evening in September. The table shows, for different latitudes, whether it ever rises and how high it climbs when it crosses the meridian.
| Latitude | Visibility | Highest point |
|---|---|---|
| 60° N (Oslo, Helsinki) | Rises and sets | 38° (south) |
| 50° N (Frankfurt, Prague) | Rises and sets | 48° (south) |
| 40° N (New York, Madrid, Beijing) | Rises and sets | 58° (south) |
| 30° N (Cairo, New Orleans) | Rises and sets | 68° (south) |
| 20° N (Mexico City, Mumbai) | Rises and sets | 78° (south) |
| 0° (Quito, Nairobi) | Rises and sets | 82° (north) |
| 20° S (Rio de Janeiro area) | Rises and sets | 62° (north) |
| 35° S (Sydney, Buenos Aires) | Rises and sets | 47° (north) |
| 45° S (Dunedin, southern Patagonia) | Rises and sets | 37° (north) |
How far away is Libertas?
Libertas is about 186 light-years from Earth. The light you see tonight left the star around the year 1840. That is about 43 times farther than Alpha Centauri, the nearest star system to the Sun.
What kind of star is Libertas?
Libertas has the spectral type G9+IIIb. Stars of class G have surface temperatures of about 5,200 to 6,000 kelvin, which makes them look yellow. It is a supergiant: a massive star late in its life, far larger and many thousands of times more luminous than the Sun.
Messier objects near Libertas
Within 12° of Libertas (about the width of a fist at arm's length) lie Messier 71 (M71) at 10°.
Questions about Libertas
How far away is Libertas?
About 186 light-years. The light we see today left it around the year 1840.
What color is Libertas?
Libertas looks yellow. Its spectral type is G9+IIIb, which means a surface temperature of about 5,200 to 6,000 kelvin.
Can you see Libertas from the Northern Hemisphere?
Yes. From 40° N it rises and sets; at its highest it stands 58° high in the south.
Can you see Libertas from the Southern Hemisphere?
Yes. From 35° S it rises and sets; at its highest it stands 47° high in the north.
When is the best time to see Libertas?
In the evening in September, when it is highest at about 9 pm. It is 4.71 magnitude, the 1138th-brightest star in the night sky.