Vega - α Lyrae (alpha Lyrae)

Below the horizon. Rise: 16:45 | Tran: 1:42 | Set: 10:42

Alt: -6.21° Az: 20.92° Direction: South

Vega, also designated as α Lyrae (alpha Lyrae), is a variable and multiple hypergiant star of spectral class A0 in the constellation of Lyra.

Vega visual magnitude is 0.03, making it the 5th brightest star in the sky. Because of its brightness, Vega is clearly visible to the naked eye when observed from locations with dark skies, and should be also quite easily visible from light polluted areas.

Image of Vega - α Lyrae (alpha Lyrae) star

DSS2 image of Vega. The red arrow shows the motion of Vega during the next 1000 years (3.37 arcmin in Right Ascension and 4.77 arcmin in declination);

Celestial Coordinates

Apparent

Right Ascension 18h 37m 47s

Declination +38° 48’ 23”

Hour Angle 13h 48m 22s

Sidereal Time 08h 26m 10s

J2000

Right Ascension 18h 36m 56s

Declination +38° 47’ 00”

Galactic Coordinates

Galactic Longitude 67.44°

Galactic Latitude 19.24°

Finder Chart

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Finder chart for Vega - α Lyrae (alpha Lyrae).

Magnitude, Color, Spectral Class

Color ⬤

Magnitude 0.03

Class Hypergiant

Absolute magnitude 0.58

Spectral Type A0V

Color Index (B-V) 0

Temperature 10125K

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

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

Star System Properties

Vega 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 Vega double sysyem:

Main star magnitude 0.03

Secondary star magnitude 10.43

Magnitude difference 10.4

Separation 62.8 arcsec

Distance, Radial Speed, Proper Motion

Vega is distant 25.29 light years from the Sun and it is moving towards the Sun at the speed of 14 kilometers per second.

Distance (parsec) 7.76

Distance (light year) 25.29

Radial Speed -14 km/s

Proper Motion RA 0.202 arcsec/y

Proper Motion Dec 0.286"/y

Alternative Designations

Proper Name Vega

Bayer designation α Lyrae
(alpha Lyrae)

Flamsteed designation 3 Lyrae

Henry Draper Catalogue HD172167

SAO Catalogue SAO67174

Hipparcos Catalogue HIP91262

Durchmusterung Catalogue BD+38 3238

Gliese Catalogue Gl 721

FK5 Catalogue 699

General Catalogue of Variable Stars Alp Lyr

Aitken Double Star Catalogue ADS11510

Visibility from Your Location

Today's Vega - α Lyrae (alpha Lyrae) rise, transit and set times from Sperlonga, Italy are the following (all times relative to the local timezone Europe/Rome):

Azimuth: 51.2° RISE 16:45

Max altitude: 87.5° TRANSIT 1:42

Azimuth: 308.8° SET 10:42

Name:	Sperlonga, Italy
Latitude:	41° 15' 32.4" N
Longitude:	13° 25' 58.8" E
Timezone:	Europe/Rome

Set Location

Other stars in Lyra