τ Draconis (tau Draconis)

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

τ Draconis visual magnitude is 4.45. Because of its moderate brightness, τ 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 τ Draconis:

Color of τ Draconis ⬤

Magnitude of τ Draconis 4.45

Class Giant

VISIBILITY RIGHT NOW τ Draconis (tau Draconis) is above the horizon from Greenwich, United Kingdom [change]. Altitude: 68°.

Celestial coordinates and finder chart of τ Draconis

τ 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 τ Draconis are provided in the following table:

Right Ascension J2000 19h 15m 33s

Declination J2000 +73° 21’ 20”

Galactic Longitude 104.73°

Galactic Latitude 24.21°

Constellation Draco

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

Finder chart τ Draconis (tau Draconis) star

Simplified finder chart for τ Draconis (tau Draconis).

Visibility of τ Draconis from your location

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

τ Draconis (tau Draconis) is circumpolar and transits at 07:09 UTC (altitude: 68.1°)

Digitized Sky Survey image of τ Draconis

The image below is a photograph of τ 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 τ Draconis is -0.14 arcsec per year in Right Ascension and 0.107 arcsec per year in Declination and the associated displacement for the next 1000 years is represented with the red arrow.

DSS2 image of τ Draconis. The red arrow shows the motion of τ Draconis during the next 1000 years (-2.33 arcmin in Right Ascension and 1.78 arcmin in declination);

Distance of τ Draconis from the Sun and relative movement

τ Draconis is distant 150.02 light years from the Sun and it is moving towards the Sun at the speed of 30 kilometers per second.

Distance (parsec) 46.02 pc

Distance (light year) 150.02 ly

Heliocentric radial velocity -30 km/s

Proper Motion RA -0.14 arcsec/year

Proper Motion Dec 0.107 arcsec/year

Spectral properties of τ Draconis

τ Draconis belongs to spectral class K2 and has a luminosity class of III corresponding to a giant star.

Absolute magnitude 1.14

Spectral Type K2III

Color Index (B-V) 1.25

Temperature of τ Draconis 4213K

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

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

Alternative designations of τ Draconis

Bayer designation τ Draconis
(tau Draconis)

Flamsteed designation 60 Draconis

Henry Draper Catalogue HD181984

SAO Catalogue SAO9366

Hipparcos Catalogue HIP94648

Durchmusterung Catalogue BD+73 857

FK5 Catalogue 729

General Catalogue of Variable Stars 11898

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Other stars in Draco