Eltanin - γ Draconis (gamma Draconis)

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 skyes, and should be also quite easily visible from light polluted areas.

The table below summarizes the key facts about Eltanin:

Color of Eltanin ⬤

Magnitude of Eltanin 2.23

Class Giant

VISIBILITY RIGHT NOW Eltanin - γ Draconis (gamma Draconis) is above the horizon from Greenwich, United Kingdom [change]. Altitude: 68°.

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:

Right Ascension J2000 17h 56m 36s

Declination J2000 +51° 29’ 20”

Galactic Longitude 79.06°

Galactic Latitude 29.22°

Constellation 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 [change]
Latitude: 51° 28’ 47” N
Longitude: 0° 00’ 00” E
Timezone: Europe/London

Eltanin - γ Draconis (gamma Draconis) is circumpolar and transits at 05:58 UTC (altitude: 90.0°)

Digitized Sky Survey image of Eltanin

The image below is a photograph of Eltanin 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 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);

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.

Distance (parsec) 45.25 pc

Distance (light year) 147.51 ly

Heliocentric radial velocity -28 km/s

Proper Motion RA -0.008 arcsec/year

Proper Motion Dec -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.

Absolute magnitude -1.05

Spectral Type K5III

Color Index (B-V) 1.52

Temperature of Eltanin 3764K

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

Main star magnitude 2.23

Secondary star magnitude 10.63

Magnitude difference 8.4

Separation 140.1 arcsec

Alternative designations of Eltanin

Proper Name Eltanin

Bayer designation γ Draconis
(gamma Draconis)

Flamsteed designation 33 Draconis

Henry Draper Catalogue HD164058

SAO Catalogue SAO30653

Hipparcos Catalogue HIP87833

Durchmusterung Catalogue BD+51 2282

FK5 Catalogue 676

Aitken Double Star Catalogue ADS10923

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