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Show the direction and distance to this object on the Galactic Map.

Proper Name	None
Bayer Designation	Tau Centauri
Flamsteed Number	None
HR (BSC)	4802
HD	109787
Constellation	Centaurus
Right Ascension	12h 37m 42s
Declination	-48° 32' 29"
Distance	134 light years 41 parsecs
Magnitude	Apparent: +3.84 Absolute: +0.77
Spectral Class	A2V white main sequence star
Optimum Visibility	April (Usually visible from southern latitudes)

The bright star to the southeast of Tau Centauri is Muhlifain or Gamma Centauri, actually a close neighbour of Tau Centauri in space, but a subgiant star that is far more intrinsically luminous than Tau Centauri. The fainter orange star near Muhlifain is w Centauri, a giant background star lying some sixty light years beyond the other two prominent stars seen here. Imagery provided by Aladin sky atlas

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