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A Complete Guide to the Solar System and the Night Sky
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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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All Constellations » Draco » 

Eltanin - γ Draconis (gamma Draconis)

Altitude: 73.3°   Azimuth: 79.4°   Direction: East

Eltanin, also designated as γ Draconis (gamma Draconis), is a multiple giant star in the constellation of Draco.

Eltanin visual magnitude is 2.23, making it the 67th brightest star in the sky. Thanks to its high brightness, Eltanin 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 Eltanin is -0.008 arcsec per year in Right Ascension and -0.019 arcsec per year in Declination and the associated displacement for the next 10000 years is represented with the red arrow.

Image of Eltanin - γ Draconis (gamma Draconis) star
DSS2 image of Eltanin. The red arrow shows the motion of Eltanin during the next 10000 years (-1.33 arcmin in Right Ascension and -3.17 arcmin in declination);

Key facts about Eltanin

2.23
Giant

Eltanin - γ Draconis (gamma Draconis) is above the horizon from Greenwich, United Kingdom edit_location_alt.

Altitude: 73.3°
Azimuth: 79.4°
Direction: East

Celestial coordinates and finder chart of Eltanin

Eltanin is situated north of the celestial equator, as such, it is more easily visible from the northern hemisphere. Celestial coordinates for the J2000 equinox as well as galactic coordinates of Eltanin are provided in the following table:

17h 56m 36s
+51° 29’ 20”
79.06°
29.22°
Draco

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

Finder chart Eltanin - γ Draconis (gamma Draconis) star
Simplified finder chart for Eltanin - γ Draconis (gamma Draconis).

Visibility of Eltanin from your location

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

Eltanin - γ Draconis (gamma Draconis) is circumpolar and transits at 06:07 UTC (altitude: 90.0°)

Distance of Eltanin from the Sun and relative movement

Eltanin is distant 147.51 light years from the Sun and it is moving towards the Sun at the speed of 28 kilometers per second.

45.25 pc
147.51 ly
-28 km/s
-0.008 arcsec/year
-0.019 arcsec/year

Spectral properties of Eltanin

Eltanin belongs to spectral class K5 and has a luminosity class of III corresponding to a giant star.

-1.05
K5III
3764K

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

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

Eltanin star system properties

Eltanin 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 Eltanin double sysyem:

2.23
10.63
8.4
140.1 arcsec

Alternative designations of Eltanin

Eltanin
γ Draconis
(gamma Draconis)
33 Draconis
SAO30653
SAO30653