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A Complete Guide to the Solar System and the Night Sky
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public Observing fromLocation: Greenwich, United Kingdom edit_location_alt
SunriseRise: 5:41  
clear_day Transit: 12:56  
SunsetSet: 20:12
wb_twilight Nautical TwilightWhat's Visible Now?
All Constellations » Boötes » 

ξ Boötis (xi Boötis)

Altitude: 29.4°   Azimuth: 96.1°   Direction: East

ξ Boötis is a variable and multiple main-sequence star in the constellation of Boötes.

ξ Boötis visual magnitude is 4.55. Because of its moderate brightness, ξ Boötis should be easily visible from locations with dark skies, while it can be barely visible, or not visible at all, from skies affected by light pollution.

The proper motion of ξ Boötis is 0.137 arcsec per year in Right Ascension and -0.098 arcsec per year in Declination and the associated displacement for the next 1000 years is represented with the red arrow.

Image of ξ Boötis (xi Boötis) star
DSS2 image of ξ Boötis. The red arrow shows the motion of ξ Boötis during the next 1000 years (2.28 arcmin in Right Ascension and -1.63 arcmin in declination);

Key facts about ξ Boötis

4.55
Main-sequence

ξ Boötis (xi Boötis) is above the horizon from Greenwich, United Kingdom edit_location_alt.

Altitude: 29.4°
Azimuth: 96.1°
Direction: East

Celestial coordinates and finder chart of ξ Boötis

ξ Boötis is situated close to the celestial equator, as such, it is at least partly visible from both hemispheres in certain times of the year. Celestial coordinates for the J2000 equinox as well as galactic coordinates of ξ Boötis are provided in the following table:

14h 51m 23s
+19° 06’ 03”
23.09°
61.36°
Boötes

The simplified sky map below shows the position of ξ Boötis in the sky:

Finder chart ξ Boötis (xi Boötis) star
Simplified finder chart for ξ Boötis (xi Boötis).

Visibility of ξ Boötis from your location

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

Today's ξ Boötis (xi Boötis) rise, transit and set times from Greenwich, United Kingdom edit_location_alt are the following (all times relative to the local timezone Europe/London):

Azimuth: 70.9°
Max altitude: 57.6°
Azimuth: 289.1°

Distance of ξ Boötis from the Sun and relative movement

ξ Boötis is distant 21.84 light years from the Sun and it is moving far from the Sun at the speed of 3 kilometers per second.

6.70 pc
21.84 ly
3 km/s
0.137 arcsec/year
-0.098 arcsec/year

Spectral properties of ξ Boötis

ξ Boötis belongs to spectral class G8 and has a luminosity class of V corresponding to a main-sequence star.

5.42
G8V
5404K

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

HR Diagram
H-R diagram showing the position of ξ Boötis. Attribution: Richard Powell / CC BY-SA

ξ Boötis star system properties

ξ Boötis is a visual double star which can be observed with the help of small or medium telescopes. The table below shows key information about the ξ Boötis double sysyem:

4.55
6.65
2.1
7.2 arcsec

Alternative designations of ξ Boötis

ξ Boötis
(xi Boötis)
SAO101250
SAO101250
Gl 566 A