φ Draconis (phi Draconis)

φ Draconis is a variable and multiple hypergiant star in the constellation of Draco.

φ Draconis visual magnitude is 4.22. Because of its moderate brightness, φ 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 φ Draconis:

Color of φ Draconis ⬤

Magnitude of φ Draconis 4.22

Class Hypergiant

VISIBILITY RIGHT NOW φ Draconis (phi Draconis) is above the horizon from Greenwich, United Kingdom [change]. Altitude: 70°.

Celestial coordinates and finder chart of φ Draconis

φ 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 φ Draconis are provided in the following table:

Right Ascension J2000 18h 20m 45s

Declination J2000 +71° 20’ 16”

Galactic Longitude 101.88°

Galactic Latitude 28.04°

Constellation Draco

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

Finder chart φ Draconis (phi Draconis) star

Simplified finder chart for φ Draconis (phi Draconis).

Visibility of φ Draconis from your location

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

φ Draconis (phi Draconis) is circumpolar and transits at 06:14 UTC (altitude: 70.1°)

Digitized Sky Survey image of φ Draconis

The image below is a photograph of φ 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 φ Draconis is -0.004 arcsec per year in Right Ascension and 0.04 arcsec per year in Declination and the associated displacement for the next 10000 years is represented with the red arrow.

DSS2 image of φ Draconis. The red arrow shows the motion of φ Draconis during the next 10000 years (-0.67 arcmin in Right Ascension and 6.67 arcmin in declination);

Distance of φ Draconis from the Sun and relative movement

φ Draconis is distant 289.01 light years from the Sun and it is moving towards the Sun at the speed of 16 kilometers per second.

Distance (parsec) 88.65 pc

Distance (light year) 289.01 ly

Heliocentric radial velocity -16 km/s

Proper Motion RA -0.004 arcsec/year

Proper Motion Dec 0.04 arcsec/year

Spectral properties of φ Draconis

φ Draconis belongs to spectral class A0 φ Draconis is also a Si chemically peculiar star.

Absolute magnitude -0.52

Spectral Type A0

Color Index (B-V) -0.1

Temperature of φ Draconis 11573K

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

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

φ Draconis star system properties

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

Main star magnitude 4.22

Secondary star magnitude 5.92

Magnitude difference 1.7

Separation 0.2 arcsec

Alternative designations of φ Draconis

Bayer designation φ Draconis
(phi Draconis)

Flamsteed designation 43 Draconis

Henry Draper Catalogue HD170000

SAO Catalogue SAO9084

Hipparcos Catalogue HIP89908

Durchmusterung Catalogue BD+71 889

General Catalogue of Variable Stars Phi Dra

Aitken Double Star Catalogue ADS11311

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Other stars in Draco