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public Observing fromLocation: Greenwich, United Kingdom edit_location_alt
SunriseRise: 6:04  
clear_day Transit: 12:06  
SunsetSet: 18:09
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Boötes (The Herdsman) Constellation

Altitude: 68.9°   Azimuth: 179.1°   Direction: South

Boötes (pronounced boʊˈoʊtiːz) is the Latin name of a large constellation (in fact it extends itself for about 51 degrees across the sky) situated north of the celestial equator. As such, it is more easily visible from the northern hemisphere.

In English language this constellation is also known as "The Herdsman" while in astronomical texts and literature this constellation is often abbreviated as "Boo" (according to the standard of the International Astronomical Union - IAU) or as "Boot" (according to a naming convention used by NASA).

The Latin genitive of the constellation name is "Boötis" (pronounced boʊˈoʊtɪs) and it is used to identify some of the brightest stars in this constellation based on the Bayer or Flamsteed star naming convention. For instance: α Boötis (the brightest star of Boötes based on the Bayer catalog); or 23 Boötis (the 23th star in the constellation of Boötes based on the Flamsteed catalog).

Boötes is above the horizon from Greenwich, United Kingdom edit_location_alt. Altitude: 69°.
Available Resources for Boötes

Sky Chart of Boötes Constellation

Here we provide a simplified sky chart of the Boötes constellation. Alternatively it is possible to locate Boötes in the night sky using our Online Interactive Planetarium.

Chart of  constellation
This constellation image is derivatve work based on original work by IAU and Sky & Telescope magazine (Roger Sinnott & Rick Fienberg) CC-BY-3.0.

Visibility of Boötes Constellation

Location: Greenwich, United Kingdom edit_location_alt
Latitude: 51° 28’ 47” N
Longitude: 0° 00’ 00” E
Timezone: Europe/London

Today's Boötes rise, transit and set times from Greenwich, United Kingdom edit_location_alt are the following (all times relative to the local timezone Europe/London):

Azimuth: 59.7°
Max altitude: 68.9°
Azimuth: 300.3°
Boötes is above the horizon from Greenwich, United Kingdom

The rise and set times provided here are just directional indications and they refer to a point approximately placed at the center of the constellation. In case of very large constellations (like Boötes actually is) these times can have little relevance.

Bright Stars in Boötes Constellation

The table below lists the top 20 brightest stars in the Boötes constellation. See also the complete list of 151 stars brighter than magnitude 6.5 (approximate) in the constellation of Boötes. Click on each star to see more details about it.

HR Number(*) Star designation Proper name Visual magnitude Color Notes
HR5340 α Boötis Arcturus -0.04 Variable;
HR5235 η Boötis Muphrid 2.68 Double;
HR5506 ε Boötis Izar 2.7 Multiple;
HR5435 γ Boötis Seginus 3.03 Variable; Multiple;
HR5681 δ Boötis 3.47 Variable; Double;
HR5602 β Boötis Nekkar 3.5 Variable;
HR5429 ρ Boötis 3.58 Variable; Double;
HR5404 θ Boötis 4.05 Variable; Double;
HR5200 υ Boötis 4.07 Variable;
HR5351 λ Boötis Xuange 4.18 Variable;
HR5733 μ1 Boötis Alkalurops 4.31 Variable; Multiple;
HR5478 ζ Boötis 4.43 Variable; Multiple;
HR5447 σ Boötis 4.46 Variable; Multiple;
HR5185 τ Boötis 4.5 Variable; Double;
HR5329 κ2 Boötis 4.54 Variable; Double;
HR5616 ψ Boötis 4.54
HR5544 ξ Boötis 4.55 Variable; Multiple;
HR5502 ο Boötis 4.6
HR5350 ι Boötis 4.75 Variable; Multiple;
HR5618 44 Boötis 4.76 Variable; Double;
...go to the complete list of 151 bright stars in the constellation of Boötes

(*) HR stands for Harvard Revised Bright Star Catalogue, which is also known as the Yale Catalogue of Bright Stars.

Deep Sky Objects in Boötes Constellation

The table below lists the 20 brightest deep sky objects in the Boötes constellation. See also the complete list of 509 deep sky objects in the constellation of Boötes. The list includes objects from the Messier, New General Catalogue (NGC) and Index Catalogue (IC).

Name Type Magnitude
NGC 5466 Globular Cluster 9.7 (V)
IC 4502 Galaxy 11.3 (B)
NGC 5248 Galaxy 11.4 (B)
NGC 5676 Galaxy 11.7 (B)
NGC 5600 Galaxy 11.9 (B)
NGC 5660 Galaxy 12.2 (B)
NGC 5557 Galaxy 12.2 (B)
NGC 5656 Galaxy 12.43 (V)
NGC 5859 Galaxy 12.47 (V)
NGC 5623 Galaxy 12.53 (V)
NGC 5480 Galaxy 12.6 (B)
NGC 5665 Galaxy 12.6 (B)
NGC 5614 Galaxy 12.6 (B)
IC 1029 Galaxy 12.65 (V)
NGC 5653 Galaxy 12.7 (B)
NGC 5689 Galaxy 12.7 (B)
NGC 5529 Galaxy 12.9 (B)
NGC 5633 Galaxy 12.93 (V)
NGC 5533 Galaxy 13 (B)
...go to the complete list of 509 deep sky objects in the constellation of Boötes