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Coryphaena

Alpha Doradus

White giant in Dorado

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Proper Name	Coryphaena
Bayer Designation	Alpha Doradus
Flamsteed Number	None
HR (BSC)	1465
HD	29305
Constellation	Dorado
Right Ascension	4h 34m 0s
Declination	-55° 2' 42"
Distance	169 light years 52 parsecs
Magnitude	Apparent: +3.25 Absolute: -0.07
Spectral Class	A0IIIp white giant (A), B9IV blue subgiant (B)
Optimum Visibility	December (Usually visible from southern latitudes)

Coryphaena or Alpha Doradus shines against the backdrop of the Dorado Group, a scattered group of galaxies running through the central parts of the constellation. Prominent to the northwest of the central star in this image is the spiral NGC 1617, and a number of other galaxies are visible to the west, including lenticular NGC 1596. Imagery provided by Aladin sky atlas

The status of the name Coryphaena for this star is somewhat uncertain. It comes from the genus of fish from which the constellation Dorado takes its name, and so seems suitable as name for the star Alpha Doradus (following similar logic to the use of Stellio for Alpha Lacertae). The name was adopted by the IAU in December 2024, but subsequently disappeared from the list of formally recognised star names. It is unclear whether or not this represents an intentional withdrawal of the name, but as this star was (at least temporarily) officially known as Coryphaena, the use of the name is included here.

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