Sadalmelik is the alpha star of Aquarius, a yellow giant lying almost on the celestial equator, its Arabic name meaning the luck of the king.
At a glance
| type | yellow giant (class G) |
|---|---|
| distance from the Sun | 524 light-years (161 pc) |
| its light left it | 524 years ago |
| luminosity | 1,590 × the Sun |
| radius | 39.7 × the Sun |
| surface temperature | 5,790 K |
| constellation | Aquarius (Water Bearer) |
Read off the piece’s own catalogue, the same values it draws with.
About Sadalmelik
The card lists a yellow giant of class G, vastly wider and more luminous than the Sun. It is a near twin of Sadalsuud, close beside it on the sky, and only slightly fainter.
Its name comes from the Arabic saʿd al-malik, “luck of the king”. It lies almost exactly on the celestial equator, so it can be seen from everywhere on Earth. Just to its east is the small Y of stars called the Water Jar, centred on Sadachbia, from which the water of Aquarius pours.
What you see in the piece
Sadalmelik and Sadalsuud sit at similar distances, so the piece keeps them close in space too, a rare case where neighbours on the sky are not far apart in depth.
Questions
Where is Sadalmelik?
Sadalmelik lies in Aquarius almost on the celestial equator, 524 light-years (161 pc) from the Sun.