Westerlund 1-26 is a red supergiant star that can be located in the constellation of Ara. The description is based on the spectral class. The star can not be seen by the naked eye, you need a telescope to see it.
Location of Westerlund 1-26
The location of the star in the night sky is determined by the Right Ascension (R.A.) and Declination (Dec.), these are equivalent to the Longitude and Latitude on the Earth. The Right Ascension is how far expressed in time (hh:mm:ss) the star is along the celestial equator. If the R.A. is positive then its eastwards. The Declination is how far north or south the star is compared to the celestial equator and is expressed in degrees. For Westerlund 1-26, the location is 16h 47m 05.40 and -45° 50` 36.76 .
Physical Properties (Colour, Radius) of Westerlund 1-26
Westerlund 1-26 has a spectral type of M2-M6Ia. This means the star is a red supergiant star. Westerlund 1-26 lies at a distance of 11,500.00 light years away from our Sun and our planet Earth or to put it another way, 3,525.84 parsecs away from the Sun.
Westerlund 1-26 has been calculated as 1,530.00 times bigger than the Sun.The Sun's radius is 695,800km, therefore the star's radius is an estimated 1,064,574,000.00.km. If you need the diameter of the star, you just need to multiple the radius by 2.
Westerlund 1-26 Apparent and Absolute Magnitudes
Westerlund 1-26 has an apparent magnitude of 17.19 which is how bright we see the star from Earth. Apparent Magnitude is also known as Visual Magnitude. Magnitude, whether it be apparent/visual or absolute magnitude is measured by a number, the smaller the number, the brighter the Star is. Our own Sun is the brightest star and therefore has the lowest of all magnitudes, -26.74. A faint star will have a high number.
Distance to Westerlund 1-26
Westerlund 1-26 is an estimated 11,500.00 light years from our Solar System (Earth and Sun). It would take a spaceship 11,500.00 years travelling at the speed of light to get there. We don't have a space ship that can travel that distance or at that speed yet.
Spectral Type M2-M6Ia
Multiple Star System No / Unknown
Star Type very luminous Supergiant Star
Colour red
Galaxy Milky Way
Constellation Ara
Visual / Apparent Magnitude 17.19
Naked Eye Visible Requires 8m Telescope - Magnitudes
Right Ascension (R.A.) 16h 47m 05.40
Declination (Dec.) -45° 50` 36.76
Distance from the Sun / Earth 11,500.00 Light Years
Companions (Multi-Star and Exoplanets) Facts
Exoplanet Count None/Unaware
Estimated Facts
Radius (x the Sun) 1,530.00
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