κ Draconis (kappa Draconis)

κ Draconis is a variable giant star in the constellation of Draco.

κ Draconis visual magnitude is 3.87. Because of its moderate brightness, κ Draconis 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 Draconis:

Color of κ Draconis ⬤

Magnitude of κ Draconis 3.87

Class Giant

VISIBILITY RIGHT NOW κ Draconis (kappa Draconis) is above the horizon from Greenwich, United Kingdom [change]. Altitude: 49°.

Celestial coordinates and finder chart of κ Draconis

κ 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 κ Draconis are provided in the following table:

Right Ascension J2000 12h 33m 29s

Declination J2000 +69° 47’ 17”

Galactic Longitude 125.21°

Galactic Latitude 47.26°

Constellation Draco

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

Finder chart κ Draconis (kappa Draconis) star

Simplified finder chart for κ Draconis (kappa Draconis).

Visibility of κ Draconis from your location

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

κ Draconis (kappa Draconis) is circumpolar and transits at 00:12 UTC (altitude: 71.7°)

Digitized Sky Survey image of κ Draconis

The image below is a photograph of κ Draconis 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 Draconis is -0.059 arcsec per year in Right Ascension and 0.012 arcsec per year in Declination and the associated displacement for the next 10000 years is represented with the red arrow.

Image of κ Draconis (kappa Draconis) star

DSS2 image of κ Draconis. The red arrow shows the motion of κ Draconis during the next 10000 years (-9.83 arcmin in Right Ascension and 2.00 arcmin in declination);

Distance of κ Draconis from the Sun and relative movement

κ Draconis is distant 497.71 light years from the Sun and it is moving towards the Sun at the speed of 11 kilometers per second.

Distance (parsec) 152.67 pc

Distance (light year) 497.71 ly

Heliocentric radial velocity -11 km/s

Proper Motion RA -0.059 arcsec/year

Proper Motion Dec 0.012 arcsec/year

Spectral properties of κ Draconis

κ Draconis belongs to spectral class B6 and has a luminosity class of III corresponding to a giant star.

Absolute magnitude -2.05

Spectral Type B6III

Color Index (B-V) -0.13

Temperature of κ Draconis 12103K

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

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

Alternative designations of κ Draconis

Bayer designation κ Draconis
(kappa Draconis)

Flamsteed designation 5 Draconis

Henry Draper Catalogue HD109387

SAO Catalogue SAO7593

Hipparcos Catalogue HIP61281

Durchmusterung Catalogue BD+70 703

FK5 Catalogue 472

General Catalogue of Variable Stars Kap Dra

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Other stars in Draco