κ Cygni (kappa Cygni)

κ Cygni is a variable giant star in the constellation of Cygnus.

κ Cygni visual magnitude is 3.77. Because of its moderate brightness, κ Cygni 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 κ Cygni:

Color of κ Cygni ⬤

Magnitude of κ Cygni 3.77

Class Giant

VISIBILITY RIGHT NOW κ Cygni (kappa Cygni) is above the horizon from Greenwich, United Kingdom edit_location_alt. Altitude: 15°.

Celestial coordinates and finder chart of κ Cygni

κ Cygni 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 κ Cygni are provided in the following table:

Right Ascension J2000 19h 17m 06s

Declination J2000 +53° 22’ 06”

Galactic Longitude 84.4°

Galactic Latitude 17.85°

Constellation Cygnus

The simplified sky map below shows the position of κ Cygni in the sky:

Simplified finder chart for κ Cygni (kappa Cygni).

Visibility of κ Cygni from your location

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

κ Cygni (kappa Cygni) is circumpolar and transits at 02:31 UTC (altitude: 88.1°)

Digitized Sky Survey image of κ Cygni

The image below is a photograph of κ Cygni 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 κ Cygni is 0.059 arcsec per year in Right Ascension and 0.125 arcsec per year in Declination and the associated displacement for the next 1000 years is represented with the red arrow.

DSS2 image of κ Cygni. The red arrow shows the motion of κ Cygni during the next 1000 years (0.98 arcmin in Right Ascension and 2.08 arcmin in declination);

Distance of κ Cygni from the Sun and relative movement

κ Cygni is distant 123.11 light years from the Sun and it is moving towards the Sun at the speed of 29 kilometers per second.

Distance (parsec) 37.76 pc

Distance (light year) 123.11 ly

Heliocentric radial velocity -29 km/s

Proper Motion RA 0.059 arcsec/year

Proper Motion Dec 0.125 arcsec/year

Spectral properties of κ Cygni

κ Cygni belongs to spectral class G9 and has a luminosity class of III corresponding to a giant star.

Absolute magnitude 0.88

Spectral Type G9III

Color Index (B-V) 0.96

Temperature of κ Cygni 4841K

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

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

Alternative designations of κ Cygni

Bayer designation κ Cygni
(kappa Cygni)

Flamsteed designation 1 Cygni

Henry Draper Catalogue HD181276

SAO Catalogue SAO31537

Hipparcos Catalogue HIP94779

Durchmusterung Catalogue BD+53 2216

FK5 Catalogue 726

General Catalogue of Variable Stars 11886

In Evidence

Other stars in Cygnus