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Bright star · Virgo

Spica

NameSpica
DesignationsAlpha Virginis · HIP 65474 · HD 116658
ConstellationVirgo
Distance~250 ly
Magnitude+0.97
Spectral typeB1V

Naked eye: magnitude +0.97, bright enough to see without a telescope under dark skies (limit ≈ +6).

From India (8°–34° N): rises above the horizon everywhere in the country.

Why it matters

When to look: Apr–Jun evenings.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia: List of brightest stars
  2. HYG Database v4.1 (D. Nash, astronexus), CC BY-SA 4.0: stars within 20 ly, derived list
  3. HYG Database v4.1 (Nash), CC BY-SA 4.0
  4. IAU, The Constellations (88 official names and abbreviations)
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