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AsteriaStar
Main-sequence star · Orion

38 Orionis

Knowledge graph38 OriHR 1872HD 36777HIP 26126

Scientific overview

38 Orionis is a main-sequence star in the constellation Orion (Orionis), lying about 275.94 light-years from Earth.

Class A. White stars with strong hydrogen lines. Many of the brightest stars in the sky are class A. Such stars have surface temperatures around 7,500–10,000 K and appear white to the eye.

Physical properties

Spectral typeA2V
Luminosity classV
Apparent magnitude5.32
Absolute magnitude0.68
Luminosity (Sun = 1)46.43
Colour index (B−V)0.051
Distance275.94 ly (84.6 pc)

Values are real catalogue data; fields without a reliable value are omitted, never estimated.

Precision measurements

Astrometry and astrophysics from SIMBAD

Parallax5.9928 ± 0.2469 masSIMBAD · measured
Proper motion (RA)-24.785 mas/yrSIMBAD · measured
Proper motion (Dec)-17.721 mas/yrSIMBAD · measured
Radial velocity-4 ± 10 km/sSIMBAD · measured
Spectral typeA1VSIMBAD · catalogued
Right ascension (ICRS)83.5699 degSIMBAD · measured
Declination (ICRS)3.7669 degSIMBAD · measured
Full field-level provenance
  • Parallax: Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg (CDS) · SIMBAD · basic · plx_value · 2020yCat.1350....0G · direct catalogue measurement · retrieved 2026-07-11
  • Proper motion (RA): Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg (CDS) · SIMBAD · basic · pmra · 2020yCat.1350....0G · direct catalogue measurement · retrieved 2026-07-11
  • Proper motion (Dec): Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg (CDS) · SIMBAD · basic · pmdec · 2020yCat.1350....0G · direct catalogue measurement · retrieved 2026-07-11
  • Radial velocity: Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg (CDS) · SIMBAD · basic · rvz_radvel · 2007AN....328..889K · direct catalogue measurement · retrieved 2026-07-11
  • Spectral type: Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg (CDS) · SIMBAD · basic · sp_type · 1999MSS...C05....0H · catalogue identifier/value · retrieved 2026-07-11
  • Right ascension (ICRS): Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg (CDS) · SIMBAD · basic · ra · 2020yCat.1350....0G · direct catalogue measurement · retrieved 2026-07-11
  • Declination (ICRS): Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg (CDS) · SIMBAD · basic · dec · 2020yCat.1350....0G · direct catalogue measurement · retrieved 2026-07-11

measured = direct catalogue value · estimated = Bayesian inference (Bailer-Jones distance) · modeled = model output (Gaia GSP-Phot). Fields a source did not provide are omitted, never invented.

Evolution

A main-sequence star fuses hydrogen into helium in its core. It will remain on the main sequence for most of its life before evolving into a giant.

Location in the sky

Constellation
Orion
Hemisphere
Both (equatorial)
Best seen
Winter (N. evening sky)
RA / Dec
5.5713h / 3.7669°

Knowledge connections

  • In constellationOrion

Sources

The primary and reference sources this topic draws on.

  • HYG DatabaseHYG Database (Hipparcos + Yale Bright Star + Gliese), by D. Nash / astronexus

    Aggregated, openly-licensed star catalogue combining Hipparcos, the Yale Bright Star Catalogue, and the Gliese Catalogue of Nearby Stars.

  • HipparcosESA Hipparcos space astrometry mission

    High-precision parallax, magnitude, and position for ~118,000 stars.