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AsteriaStar
Subgiant · Sculptor

Beta Sculptoris

Knowledge graphBeta SclHR 8937HD 221507HIP 116231

Scientific overview

Beta Sculptoris is a subgiant in the constellation Sculptor (Sculptoris), lying about 174.04 light-years from Earth.

Class B. Hot, blue-white stars. Massive and luminous, they often light up the regions where they form. Such stars have surface temperatures around 10,000–30,000 K and appear blue-white to the eye.

Physical properties

Spectral typeB9.5IVMNpe.
Luminosity classIV
Apparent magnitude4.38
Absolute magnitude0.74
Luminosity (Sun = 1)43.893
Colour index (B−V)-0.095
Distance174.04 ly (53.36 pc)

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

Precision measurements

Astrometry and astrophysics from SIMBAD and Gaia DR3 · Gaia DR3 6538585991555664128

Parallax17.8057 ± 0.2096 masSIMBAD · measured
Distance56.1848 pcGaia · estimated
Proper motion (RA)90.311 mas/yrSIMBAD · measured
Proper motion (Dec)24.091 mas/yrSIMBAD · measured
Radial velocity2.15 ± 0.23 km/sSIMBAD · measured
Spectral typeB9.5IIIpHgMnSiSIMBAD · catalogued
Right ascension (ICRS)353.2 degSIMBAD · measured
Declination (ICRS)-37.8183 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
  • Distance: ESA Gaia astrometric survey · Gaia EDR3 · Bailer-Jones (2021) · external.gaiaedr3_distance · r_med_geo · row 6538585991555664128 · Bayesian estimate · 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 · 2022yCat.1355....0G · direct catalogue measurement · retrieved 2026-07-11
  • Spectral type: Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg (CDS) · SIMBAD · basic · sp_type · 1995ApJS...99..135A · 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 subgiant has begun to evolve off the main sequence, brightening and expanding as core hydrogen fusion ends.

Location in the sky

Constellation
Sculptor
Hemisphere
Southern
Best seen
Autumn (N. evening sky)
RA / Dec
23.5495h / -37.8183°

Knowledge connections

  • In constellationSculptor

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.