ρ Draconis (rho Draconis)

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

ρ Draconis visual magnitude is 4.51. Because of its moderate brightness, ρ 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 ρ Draconis:

Color of ρ Draconis ⬤

Magnitude of ρ Draconis 4.51

Class Giant

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

Celestial coordinates and finder chart of ρ Draconis

ρ 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 ρ Draconis are provided in the following table:

Right Ascension J2000 20h 02m 49s

Declination J2000 +67° 52’ 24”

Galactic Longitude 100.7°

Galactic Latitude 18.64°

Constellation Draco

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

Finder chart ρ Draconis (rho Draconis) star

Simplified finder chart for ρ Draconis (rho Draconis).

Visibility of ρ Draconis from your location

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

ρ Draconis (rho Draconis) is circumpolar and transits at 07:56 UTC (altitude: 73.6°)

Digitized Sky Survey image of ρ Draconis

The image below is a photograph of ρ 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 ρ Draconis is 0.016 arcsec per year in Right Ascension and 0.046 arcsec per year in Declination and the associated displacement for the next 10000 years is represented with the red arrow.

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);

Distance of ρ Draconis from the Sun and relative movement

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 pc

Distance (light year) 406.48 ly

Heliocentric radial velocity -9 km/s

Proper Motion RA 0.016 arcsec/year

Proper Motion Dec 0.046 arcsec/year

Spectral properties of ρ Draconis

ρ Draconis belongs to spectral class K3 and has a luminosity class of III corresponding to a giant star.

Absolute magnitude -0.97

Spectral Type K3III

Color Index (B-V) 1.32

Temperature of ρ Draconis 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

ρ Draconis 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

Alternative designations of ρ Draconis

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

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Other stars in Draco