Alpha Aquarii
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| Observation data Epoch J2000.0 |
|
|---|---|
| Constellation (pronunciation) |
Aquarius |
| Right ascension | 22h 05m 47.0s |
| Declination | −0° 19' 11" |
| Apparent magnitude (V) | +2.95 |
| Distance | 1100 ly (233 {+56}_{-38} pc) |
| Spectral type | G2 |
| Other designations | |
Alpha Aquarii (α Aqr / α Aquarii) is a star in the constellation Aquarius. It also has the traditional names Sadalmelik, which derives from an Arabic expression سعد الملك sacd al-malik/mulk meaning "Luck of the king/kinghood", as well as Rucbah, which it shares with Delta Cassiopeiae. It is only one of two stars with ancient proper names to lie within a degree of the celestial equator. The origin of the Arabic name is quite lost to history.
Sadalmelik has a stellar magnitude of +2.95 m. It has a diameter 80 times that of the Sun, and its luminosity is 6000 times greater, giving it the spectral class G2. It is a member of a rare class of stars known as yellow supergiants.
Sadalmelik is about 760 light-years from Earth.
[edit] Location
The star's location in the sky is shown in the following map of the constellation Aquarius:
