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Phact

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description Phact Overview

Phact is the proper name of Alpha Columbae, the brightest star in Columba, a southern constellation representing a dove. It is a hot blue-white B-type star with an apparent visual magnitude of approximately 2.65, making it readily visible to the unaided eye under suitable southern skies. Despite its Alpha designation, its significance is primarily as the brightest reference star in this otherwise inconspicuous constellation.

help Phact FAQ

What is Phact's official astronomical designation?

Phact is the proper name of Alpha Columbae, also catalogued as HR 1956. It is the brightest star in Columba, the southern constellation representing a dove. [International Astronomical Union](https://iauarchive.eso.org/public/themes/naming_stars/)

What does the name Phact mean?

Phact comes from the Arabic name fakhitah, commonly translated as ring dove. That meaning fits its association with Columba, whose Latin name means dove. [Royal Astronomical Society of Canada](https://rasc.rocks/sites/default/files/World_Asterisms_Project_Handbook_V_2025.6.pdf)

What type of star is Phact, and how bright is it?

Phact is a hot blue-white B-type star with an apparent visual magnitude of about 2.65. That brightness makes it the easiest star in Columba to see without a telescope under suitable skies. [International Astronomical Union](https://iauarchive.eso.org/public/themes/naming_stars/)

Can you see Phact without a telescope?

Yes, Phact is visible to the unaided eye from suitable southern and low-latitude skies. Look for Alpha Columbae in Columba, south of the celestial equator, where its magnitude is about 2.65. [International Astronomical Union](https://iauarchive.eso.org/public/themes/naming_stars/)

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