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Alnair

Al Nair, Al Na’ir, Alpha Gruis

Proper NamesAlnair, Al Nair, Al Na'ir
Bayer DesignationAlpha Gruis
Flamsteed NumberNone
HR (BSC)8425
HD209952
ConstellationGrus
Right Ascension22h 8m 14s
Declination-46° 57' 40"
Distance101 light years
31 parsecs
MagnitudeApparent: +1.8
Absolute: -0.7
Spectral ClassB7IV blue subgiant
Optimum VisibilitySeptember (Usually visible from southern latitudes)
NotesThe bright blue star Alnair in Grus is not to be confused with another star of the same name. The somewhat fainter Zeta Centauri, far to the west of Grus, is also sometimes given the name Alnair.

The bright object quarter of a degree to the southeast of Alnair is not a star, but a distant lenticular galaxy, NGC 7213. This galaxy is oriented face-on as seen from Earth, and little of its tenuous spiral structure is detectable in this image. Imagery provided by Aladin sky atlas

Location of Alnair

Alnair, brightest of the stars that make up Grus the Crane, is just over one hundred light years from the Solar System.

Alnair means 'The Bright One', and its magnitude of +1.7 certainly makes this variable blue star the brightest in its home constellation of Grus, the Crane.

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