Alsafi - σ Draconis (sigma Draconis)

Alsafi, also designated as σ Draconis (sigma Draconis), is a variable hypergiant star in the constellation of Draco.

Alsafi visual magnitude is 4.68. Because of its moderate brightness, Alsafi should be easily visible from locations with dark skyes, while it can be barely visible, or not visible at all, from skyes affected by light pollution.

The table below summarizes the key facts about Alsafi:

Color of Alsafi ⬤

Magnitude of Alsafi 4.68

Class Hypergiant

VISIBILITY RIGHT NOW Alsafi - σ Draconis (sigma Draconis) is above the horizon from Greenwich, United Kingdom edit_location_alt. Altitude: 71°.

Celestial coordinates and finder chart of Alsafi

Alsafi is situated close to the northern celestial pole and, as such, it is visible for most part of the year from the northern hemisphere. Celestial coordinates for the J2000 equinox as well as galactic coordinates of Alsafi are provided in the following table:

Right Ascension J2000 19h 32m 21s

Declination J2000 +69° 39’ 39”

Galactic Longitude 101.32°

Galactic Latitude 21.89°

Constellation Draco

The simplified sky map below shows the position of Alsafi in the sky:

Finder chart Alsafi - σ Draconis (sigma Draconis) star

Simplified finder chart for Alsafi - σ Draconis (sigma Draconis).

Visibility of Alsafi from your location

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

Alsafi - σ Draconis (sigma Draconis) is circumpolar and transits at 03:02 UTC (altitude: 71.8°)

Digitized Sky Survey image of Alsafi

The image below is a photograph of Alsafi from the Digitized Sky Survey 2 (DSS2 - see the credits section) taken in the red channel. The area of sky represented in the image is 0.5x0.5 degrees (30x30 arcmins). The proper motion of Alsafi is 0.6 arcsec per year in Right Ascension and -1.738 arcsec per year in Declination and the associated displacement for the next 100 years is represented with the red arrow.

Image of Alsafi - σ Draconis (sigma Draconis) star

DSS2 image of Alsafi. The red arrow shows the motion of Alsafi during the next 100 years (1.00 arcmin in Right Ascension and -2.90 arcmin in declination);

Distance of Alsafi from the Sun and relative movement

Alsafi is distant 18.80 light years from the Sun and it is moving far from the Sun at the speed of 27 kilometers per second.

Distance (parsec) 5.77 pc

Distance (light year) 18.80 ly

Heliocentric radial velocity 27 km/s

Proper Motion RA 0.6 arcsec/year

Proper Motion Dec -1.738 arcsec/year

Spectral properties of Alsafi

Alsafi belongs to spectral class K0 and has a luminosity class of V corresponding to a hypergiant star.

Absolute magnitude 5.88

Spectral Type K0V

Color Index (B-V) 0.79

Temperature of Alsafi 5311K

The red dot in the diagram below shows where Alsafi is situated in the Hertzsprung–Russell diagram.

H-R diagram showing the position of Alsafi. Attribution: Richard Powell / CC BY-SA

Alternative designations of Alsafi

Proper Name Alsafi

Bayer designation σ Draconis
(sigma Draconis)

Flamsteed designation 61 Draconis

Henry Draper Catalogue HD185144

SAO Catalogue SAO18396

Hipparcos Catalogue HIP96100

Durchmusterung Catalogue BD+69 1053

Gliese Catalogue Gl 764

General Catalogue of Variable Stars 12176

In Evidence

Other stars in Draco