Alterf is an orange giant in the head of Leo, its name from the Arabic for the glance or eye of the lion, a faint star just beyond the Sickle.
At a glance
| type | orange giant (class K) |
|---|---|
| distance from the Sun | 329 light-years (101 pc) |
| its light left it | 329 years ago |
| luminosity | 333 × the Sun |
| radius | 34.4 × the Sun |
| surface temperature | 4,200 K |
| constellation | Leo (Lion) |
Read off the piece’s own catalogue, the same values it draws with.
About Alterf
The facts describe an evolved giant, much larger and brighter than the Sun but cooler at the surface, hence the orange colour.
Its name, from the Arabic al-tarf, refers to the glance of the lion. It sits at the western edge of Leo, ahead of the curve of stars, the Sickle, that draws the lion’s head and mane.
What you see in the piece
In the piece Alterf sits at its real distance, much further than most stars of the Sickle; flown past, it falls away from the lion’s head.
Questions
What kind of star is Alterf?
An orange giant (class K), about 34.4 times the Sun’s radius and 333 times its luminosity, at 329 light-years (101 pc).