λ Cygni (lambda Cygni)

λ Cygni is a multiple main-sequence star in the constellation of Cygnus.

λ Cygni visual magnitude is 4.53. Because of its moderate brightness, λ 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 λ Cygni:

Color of λ Cygni ⬤

Magnitude of λ Cygni 4.53

Class Main-sequence

VISIBILITY RIGHT NOW λ Cygni (lambda Cygni) is above the horizon from Greenwich, United Kingdom edit_location_alt. Altitude: 29°.

Celestial coordinates and finder chart of λ Cygni

λ 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 λ Cygni are provided in the following table:

Right Ascension J2000 20h 47m 24s

Declination J2000 +36° 29’ 26”

Galactic Longitude 78.08°

Galactic Latitude -4.34°

Constellation Cygnus

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

Finder chart λ Cygni (lambda Cygni) star

Simplified finder chart for λ Cygni (lambda Cygni).

Visibility of λ Cygni 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 λ Cygni (lambda Cygni) 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: 53.5° RISE 18:51

Max altitude: 75.0° TRANSIT 5:25

Azimuth: 306.5° SET 15:55

RIGHT NOW λ Cygni (lambda Cygni) is above the horizon from Greenwich, United Kingdom

Digitized Sky Survey image of λ Cygni

The image below is a photograph of λ 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 λ Cygni is 0.009 arcsec per year in Right Ascension and -0.005 arcsec per year in Declination and the associated displacement for the next 100000 years is represented with the red arrow.

DSS2 image of λ Cygni. The red arrow shows the motion of λ Cygni during the next 100000 years (15.00 arcmin in Right Ascension and -8.33 arcmin in declination);

Distance of λ Cygni from the Sun and relative movement

λ Cygni is distant 878.71 light years from the Sun and it is moving towards the Sun at the speed of 23 kilometers per second.

Distance (parsec) 269.54 pc

Distance (light year) 878.71 ly

Heliocentric radial velocity -23 km/s

Proper Motion RA 0.009 arcsec/year

Proper Motion Dec -0.005 arcsec/year

Spectral properties of λ Cygni

λ Cygni belongs to spectral class B5 and has a luminosity class of V corresponding to a main-sequence star.

Absolute magnitude -2.62

Spectral Type B5V

Color Index (B-V) -0.11

Temperature of λ Cygni 11744K

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

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

λ Cygni star system properties

λ Cygni is a visual double star which can be observed with the help of large telescopes. The table below shows key information about the λ Cygni double sysyem:

Main star magnitude 4.53

Secondary star magnitude 5.83

Magnitude difference 1.3

Separation 0.9 arcsec

Alternative designations of λ Cygni

Bayer designation λ Cygni
(lambda Cygni)

Flamsteed designation 54 Cygni

Henry Draper Catalogue HD198183

SAO Catalogue SAO70505

Hipparcos Catalogue HIP102589

Durchmusterung Catalogue BD+35 4267

Aitken Double Star Catalogue ADS14296

In Evidence

Other stars in Cygnus