The Beta Phoenicis system consists of a binary pair of yellowgiantstars in a mutual orbit that take some 170 years to complete. The distance to the system is highly uncertain; the best estimates suggest a distance of approximately two hundred light years, but recent parallax data implies that there is considerable margin for error surrounding this estimated value.
Beta Phoenicis lies against the backdrop of a rich field of galaxies, several of which can be seen in this image. In particular, the edge-on spiralIC 1621 lies on almost a direct line of sight with the star, and is visible as a narrow vertical ellipse to the immediate east of Beta Phoenicis itself. Imagery provided by Aladin sky atlas
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