Altais - δ Draconis (delta Draconis)

Altais, also designated as δ Draconis (delta Draconis), is a double giant star in the constellation of Draco.

Altais visual magnitude is 3.07. Because of its moderate brightness, Altais 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 Altais:

Color of Altais ⬤

Magnitude of Altais 3.07

Class Giant

VISIBILITY RIGHT NOW Altais - δ Draconis (delta Draconis) is above the horizon from Greenwich, United Kingdom [change]. Altitude: 36°.

Celestial coordinates and finder chart of Altais

Altais 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 Altais are provided in the following table:

Right Ascension J2000 19h 12m 33s

Declination J2000 +67° 39’ 42”

Galactic Longitude 98.65°

Galactic Latitude 23°

Constellation Draco

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

Finder chart Altais - δ Draconis (delta Draconis) star

Simplified finder chart for Altais - δ Draconis (delta Draconis).

Visibility of Altais from your location

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

Altais - δ Draconis (delta Draconis) is circumpolar and transits at 07:22 UTC (altitude: 73.8°)

Digitized Sky Survey image of Altais

The image below is a photograph of Altais 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 Altais is 0.094 arcsec per year in Right Ascension and 0.093 arcsec per year in Declination and the associated displacement for the next 1000 years is represented with the red arrow.

Image of Altais - δ Draconis (delta Draconis) star

DSS2 image of Altais. The red arrow shows the motion of Altais during the next 1000 years (1.57 arcmin in Right Ascension and 1.55 arcmin in declination);

Distance of Altais from the Sun and relative movement

Altais is distant 100.18 light years from the Sun and it is moving far from the Sun at the speed of 25 kilometers per second.

Distance (parsec) 30.73 pc

Distance (light year) 100.18 ly

Heliocentric radial velocity 25 km/s

Proper Motion RA 0.094 arcsec/year

Proper Motion Dec 0.093 arcsec/year

Spectral properties of Altais

Altais belongs to spectral class G9 and has a luminosity class of III corresponding to a giant star.

Absolute magnitude 0.63

Spectral Type G9III

Color Index (B-V) 1

Temperature of Altais 4743K

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

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

Altais star system properties

Altais is a visual double star which can be observed only with the help of very large telescopes. The table below shows key information about the Altais double sysyem:

Main star magnitude 3.07

Secondary star magnitude 12.27

Magnitude difference 9.2

Separation 88.1 arcsec

Alternative designations of Altais

Proper Name Altais

Bayer designation δ Draconis
(delta Draconis)

Flamsteed designation 57 Draconis

Henry Draper Catalogue HD180711

SAO Catalogue SAO18222

Hipparcos Catalogue HIP94376

Durchmusterung Catalogue BD+67 1129

FK5 Catalogue 723

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