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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 » 

ε Draconis (epsilon Draconis)

Altitude: 50.1°   Azimuth: 31.4°   Direction: North-North-East

ε Draconis is a variable and double giant star in the constellation of Draco.

ε Draconis visual magnitude is 3.83. Because of its moderate brightness, ε Draconis should be easily visible from locations with dark skies, while it can be barely visible, or not visible at all, from skies affected by light pollution.

The proper motion of ε Draconis is 0.082 arcsec per year in Right Ascension and 0.037 arcsec per year in Declination and the associated displacement for the next 10000 years is represented with the red arrow.

Image of ε Draconis (epsilon Draconis) star
DSS2 image of ε Draconis. The red arrow shows the motion of ε Draconis during the next 10000 years (13.67 arcmin in Right Ascension and 6.17 arcmin in declination);

Key facts about ε Draconis

3.83
Giant

ε Draconis (epsilon Draconis) is above the horizon from Greenwich, United Kingdom edit_location_alt.

Altitude: 50.1°
Azimuth: 31.4°
Direction: North-North-East

Celestial coordinates and finder chart of ε Draconis

ε Draconis 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 ε Draconis are provided in the following table:

19h 48m 10s
+70° 16’ 04”
102.43°
20.83°
Draco

The simplified sky map below shows the position of ε Draconis in the sky:

Finder chart ε Draconis (epsilon Draconis) star
Simplified finder chart for ε Draconis (epsilon Draconis).

Visibility of ε Draconis from your location

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

ε Draconis (epsilon Draconis) is circumpolar and transits at 07:58 UTC (altitude: 71.2°)

Distance of ε Draconis from the Sun and relative movement

ε Draconis is distant 145.54 light years from the Sun and it is moving far from the Sun at the speed of 3 kilometers per second.

44.64 pc
145.54 ly
3 km/s
0.082 arcsec/year
0.037 arcsec/year

Spectral properties of ε Draconis

ε Draconis belongs to spectral class G7 and has a luminosity class of III corresponding to a giant star.

0.58
G7III
5023K

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

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

ε Draconis star system properties

ε Draconis 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 ε Draconis double sysyem:

3.83
7.03
3.2
3.2 arcsec

Alternative designations of ε Draconis

ε Draconis
(epsilon Draconis)
63 Draconis
SAO9540
SAO9540