τ Draconis (tau Draconis)

Above the horizon. Circumpolar today

Alt: 34.88° Az: 0.40° Direction: South-West

τ Draconis is a variable giant star of spectral class K2 in the constellation of Draco.

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

Celestial Coordinates

Apparent

Right Ascension 19h 15m 03s

Declination +73° 24’ 04”

Hour Angle 12h 04m 35s

Sidereal Time 07h 19m 38s

J2000

Right Ascension 19h 15m 33s

Declination +73° 21’ 20”

Galactic Coordinates

Galactic Longitude 104.73°

Galactic Latitude 24.21°

Finder Chart

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Finder chart for τ Draconis (tau Draconis).

Magnitude, Color, Spectral Class

Color ⬤

Magnitude 4.45

Class Giant

Absolute magnitude 1.14

Spectral Type K2III

Color Index (B-V) 1.25

Temperature 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

Distance, Radial Speed, Proper Motion

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

Distance (light year) 150.02

Radial Speed -30 km/s

Proper Motion RA -0.14 arcsec/y

Proper Motion Dec 0.107"/y

Alternative Designations

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

Visibility from Your Location

τ Draconis (tau Draconis) is circumpolar and transits at 00:53 UTC (altitude: 68.1°)

In Evidence

Other stars in Draco

τ Draconis (tau Draconis)

Celestial Coordinates

Apparent

J2000

Galactic Coordinates

Finder Chart

Magnitude, Color, Spectral Class

Distance, Radial Speed, Proper Motion

Alternative Designations

Visibility from Your Location

Set Location

In Evidence

Other stars in Draco

τ Draconis (tau Draconis)

Celestial Coordinates

Apparent

J2000

Galactic Coordinates

Finder Chart

Magnitude, Color, Spectral Class

Distance, Radial Speed, Proper Motion

Alternative Designations

Visibility from Your Location