We use cookies to deliver essential features and to measure their performance. By using this site you accept our Privacy Policies.
A Complete Guide to the Solar System and the Night Sky
Donate Now! Help keep this site free and ads-free!
public Observing fromLocation: Greenwich, United Kingdom edit_location_alt
SunriseRise: 6:04  
clear_day Transit: 12:06  
SunsetSet: 18:09
sunny DaytimeWhat's Visible Now?
All Constellations » Draco » 

Athebyne - η Draconis (eta Draconis)

Altitude: 39.4°   Azimuth: 322.6°   Direction: North-West

Athebyne, also designated as η Draconis (eta Draconis), is a variable and multiple giant star in the constellation of Draco.

Athebyne visual magnitude is 2.74. Thanks to its high brightness, Athebyne is clearly visible when observed from locations with dark skies, and should be also quite easily visible from light polluted areas.

The proper motion of Athebyne is -0.017 arcsec per year in Right Ascension and 0.061 arcsec per year in Declination and the associated displacement for the next 10000 years is represented with the red arrow.

Image of Athebyne - η Draconis (eta Draconis) star
DSS2 image of Athebyne. The red arrow shows the motion of Athebyne during the next 10000 years (-2.83 arcmin in Right Ascension and 10.17 arcmin in declination);

Key facts about Athebyne

2.74
Giant

Athebyne - η Draconis (eta Draconis) is above the horizon from Greenwich, United Kingdom edit_location_alt.

Altitude: 39.4°
Azimuth: 322.6°
Direction: North-West

Celestial coordinates and finder chart of Athebyne

Athebyne 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 Athebyne are provided in the following table:

16h 23m 59s
+61° 30’ 51”
92.58°
40.95°
Draco

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

Finder chart Athebyne - η Draconis (eta Draconis) star
Simplified finder chart for Athebyne - η Draconis (eta Draconis).

Visibility of Athebyne from your location

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

Athebyne - η Draconis (eta Draconis) is circumpolar and transits at 04:35 UTC (altitude: 80.0°)

Distance of Athebyne from the Sun and relative movement

Athebyne is distant 87.68 light years from the Sun and it is moving towards the Sun at the speed of 14 kilometers per second.

26.90 pc
87.68 ly
-14 km/s
-0.017 arcsec/year
0.061 arcsec/year

Spectral properties of Athebyne

Athebyne belongs to spectral class G8 and has a luminosity class of III corresponding to a giant star.

0.59
G8III
4970K

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

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

Athebyne star system properties

Athebyne is a visual double star which can be observed with the help of small or medium telescopes. The table below shows key information about the Athebyne double sysyem:

2.74
7.54
4.8
564.9 arcsec

Alternative designations of Athebyne

Athebyne
η Draconis
(eta Draconis)
14 Draconis
SAO17074
SAO17074
Gl 624.1A