Cebalrai - β Ophiuchi (beta Ophiuchi)

Cebalrai, also designated as β Ophiuchi (beta Ophiuchi), is a giant star in the constellation of Ophiuchus.

Cebalrai visual magnitude is 2.77. Thanks to its high brightness, Cebalrai is clearly visible when observed from locations with dark skyes, and should be also quite easily visible from light polluted areas.

The table below summarizes the key facts about Cebalrai:

Color of Cebalrai ⬤

Magnitude of Cebalrai 2.77

Class Giant

VISIBILITY RIGHT NOW Cebalrai - β Ophiuchi (beta Ophiuchi) is above the horizon from Greenwich, United Kingdom [change]. Altitude: 14°.

Celestial coordinates and finder chart of Cebalrai

Cebalrai is situated close to the celestial equator, as such, it is at least partly visible from both hemispheres in certain times of the year. Celestial coordinates for the J2000 equinox as well as galactic coordinates of Cebalrai are provided in the following table:

Right Ascension J2000 17h 43m 28s

Declination J2000 +04° 34’ 01”

Galactic Longitude 29.21°

Galactic Latitude 17.19°

Constellation Ophiuchus

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

Finder chart Cebalrai - β Ophiuchi (beta Ophiuchi) star

Simplified finder chart for Cebalrai - β Ophiuchi (beta Ophiuchi).

Visibility of Cebalrai from your location

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

Today's Cebalrai - β Ophiuchi (beta Ophiuchi) rise, transit and set times from Greenwich, United Kingdom [change] are the following (all times relative to the local timezone Europe/London):

Azimuth: 85.4° RISE 0:01

Max altitude: 43.1° TRANSIT 6:25

Azimuth: 274.6° SET 12:46

RIGHT NOW Cebalrai - β Ophiuchi (beta Ophiuchi) is above the horizon from Greenwich, United Kingdom

Digitized Sky Survey image of Cebalrai

The image below is a photograph of Cebalrai 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 Cebalrai is -0.04 arcsec per year in Right Ascension and 0.159 arcsec per year in Declination and the associated displacement for the next 1000 years is represented with the red arrow.

Image of Cebalrai - β Ophiuchi (beta Ophiuchi) star

DSS2 image of Cebalrai. The red arrow shows the motion of Cebalrai during the next 1000 years (-0.67 arcmin in Right Ascension and 2.65 arcmin in declination);

Distance of Cebalrai from the Sun and relative movement

Cebalrai is distant 81.95 light years from the Sun and it is moving towards the Sun at the speed of 12 kilometers per second.

Distance (parsec) 25.14 pc

Distance (light year) 81.95 ly

Heliocentric radial velocity -12 km/s

Proper Motion RA -0.04 arcsec/year

Proper Motion Dec 0.159 arcsec/year

Spectral properties of Cebalrai

Cebalrai belongs to spectral class K2 and has a luminosity class of III corresponding to a giant star.

Absolute magnitude 0.77

Spectral Type K2III

Color Index (B-V) 1.16

Temperature of Cebalrai 4389K

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

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

Alternative designations of Cebalrai

Proper Name Cebalrai

Bayer designation β Ophiuchi
(beta Ophiuchi)

Flamsteed designation 60 Ophiuchi

Henry Draper Catalogue HD161096

SAO Catalogue SAO122671

Hipparcos Catalogue HIP86742

Durchmusterung Catalogue BD+04 3489

FK5 Catalogue 665

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Other stars in Ophiuchus