γ Ophiuchi (gamma Ophiuchi)

γ Ophiuchi is a hypergiant star in the constellation of Ophiuchus.

γ Ophiuchi visual magnitude is 3.75. Because of its moderate brightness, γ Ophiuchi should be easily visible from locations with dark skyes, while it can be barely visible, or not visible at all, from skyes affected by light pollution.

The table below summarizes the key facts about γ Ophiuchi:

Color of γ Ophiuchi ⬤

Magnitude of γ Ophiuchi 3.75

Class Hypergiant

VISIBILITY RIGHT NOW γ Ophiuchi (gamma Ophiuchi) is above the horizon from Greenwich, United Kingdom edit_location_alt. Altitude: 34°.

Celestial coordinates and finder chart of γ Ophiuchi

γ Ophiuchi 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 γ Ophiuchi are provided in the following table:

Right Ascension J2000 17h 47m 53s

Declination J2000 +02° 42’ 25”

Galactic Longitude 28.02°

Galactic Latitude 15.36°

Constellation Ophiuchus

The simplified sky map below shows the position of γ Ophiuchi in the sky:

Finder chart γ Ophiuchi (gamma Ophiuchi) star

Simplified finder chart for γ Ophiuchi (gamma Ophiuchi).

Visibility of γ Ophiuchi from your location

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

Today's γ Ophiuchi (gamma Ophiuchi) rise, transit and set times from Greenwich, United Kingdom edit_location_alt are the following (all times relative to the local timezone Europe/London):

Azimuth: 87.3° RISE 19:51

Max altitude: 41.2° TRANSIT 2:06

Azimuth: 272.7° SET 8:18

RIGHT NOW γ Ophiuchi (gamma Ophiuchi) is above the horizon from Greenwich, United Kingdom

Digitized Sky Survey image of γ Ophiuchi

The image below is a photograph of γ Ophiuchi 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 γ Ophiuchi is -0.022 arcsec per year in Right Ascension and -0.074 arcsec per year in Declination and the associated displacement for the next 10000 years is represented with the red arrow.

Image of γ Ophiuchi (gamma Ophiuchi) star

DSS2 image of γ Ophiuchi. The red arrow shows the motion of γ Ophiuchi during the next 10000 years (-3.67 arcmin in Right Ascension and -12.33 arcmin in declination);

Distance of γ Ophiuchi from the Sun and relative movement

γ Ophiuchi is distant 94.71 light years from the Sun and it is moving towards the Sun at the speed of 7 kilometers per second.

Distance (parsec) 29.05 pc

Distance (light year) 94.71 ly

Heliocentric radial velocity -7 km/s

Proper Motion RA -0.022 arcsec/year

Proper Motion Dec -0.074 arcsec/year

Spectral properties of γ Ophiuchi

γ Ophiuchi belongs to spectral class A0 and has a luminosity class of V corresponding to a hypergiant star.

Absolute magnitude 1.43

Spectral Type A0V

Color Index (B-V) 0.04

Temperature of γ Ophiuchi 9652K

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

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

Alternative designations of γ Ophiuchi

Bayer designation γ Ophiuchi
(gamma Ophiuchi)

Flamsteed designation 62 Ophiuchi

Henry Draper Catalogue HD161868

SAO Catalogue SAO122754

Hipparcos Catalogue HIP87108

Durchmusterung Catalogue BD+02 3403

FK5 Catalogue 668

In Evidence

Other stars in Ophiuchus