ρ Draconis (rho Draconis)

Above the horizon. Circumpolar today

Alt: 29.83° Az: 5.65° Direction: North

ρ Draconis is a multiple giant star of spectral class K3 in the constellation of Draco.

ρ Draconis visual magnitude is 4.51. Because of its moderate brightness, ρ Draconis is easily visible to the naked eye from locations with dark skies, while it might be barely visible, or not visible at all, from light-polluted skies.

DSS2 image of ρ Draconis. The red arrow shows the motion of ρ Draconis during the next 10000 years (2.67 arcmin in Right Ascension and 7.67 arcmin in declination);

Celestial Coordinates

Apparent

Right Ascension 20h 02m 55s

Declination +67° 56’ 42”

Hour Angle 12h 52m 32s

Sidereal Time 08h 55m 28s

J2000

Right Ascension 20h 02m 49s

Declination +67° 52’ 24”

Galactic Coordinates

Galactic Longitude 100.7°

Galactic Latitude 18.64°

Finder Chart

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Finder chart for ρ Draconis (rho Draconis).

Magnitude, Color, Spectral Class

Color ⬤

Magnitude 4.51

Class Giant

Absolute magnitude -0.97

Spectral Type K3III

Color Index (B-V) 1.32

Temperature 4086K

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

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

Star System Properties

ρ 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 ρ Draconis double sysyem:

Main star magnitude 4.51

Secondary star magnitude 13.11

Magnitude difference 8.6

Separation 124 arcsec

Distance, Radial Speed, Proper Motion

ρ Draconis is distant 406.48 light years from the Sun and it is moving towards the Sun at the speed of 9 kilometers per second.

Distance (parsec) 124.69

Distance (light year) 406.48

Radial Speed -9 km/s

Proper Motion RA 0.016 arcsec/y

Proper Motion Dec 0.046"/y

Alternative Designations

Bayer designation ρ Draconis
(rho Draconis)

Flamsteed designation 67 Draconis

Henry Draper Catalogue HD190940

SAO Catalogue SAO18676

Hipparcos Catalogue HIP98702

Durchmusterung Catalogue BD+67 1222

FK5 Catalogue 3608

Visibility from Your Location

ρ Draconis (rho Draconis) is circumpolar and transits at 10:08 UTC (altitude: 73.5°)

Set Location

Other stars in Draco