ξ Ophiuchi (xi Ophiuchi)

Above the horizon. Rise: 14:19 | Tran: 18:22 | Set: 22:24

Alt: 8.81° Az: 141.32° Direction: South-East

ξ Ophiuchi is a double giant star of spectral class F1 in the constellation of Ophiuchus.

ξ Ophiuchi visual magnitude is 4.39. Because of its moderate brightness, ξ Ophiuchi 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 ξ Ophiuchi. The red arrow shows the motion of ξ Ophiuchi during the next 1000 years (3.87 arcmin in Right Ascension and -3.43 arcmin in declination);

Celestial Coordinates

Apparent

Right Ascension 17h 22m 28s

Declination -21° 08’ 08”

Hour Angle 21h 14m 09s

Sideral Time 14h 36m 38s

J2000

Right Ascension 17h 21m 00s

Declination -21° 06’ 46”

Galactic Coordinates

Galactic Longitude 3.59°

Galactic Latitude 8.92°

Finder Chart

Simplified finder chart for ξ Ophiuchi (xi Ophiuchi).

Magnitude, Color, Spectral Class

Color ⬤

Magnitude 4.39

Class Giant

Absolute magnitude 3.19

Spectral Type F1III

Color Index (B-V) 0.39

Temperature 6934K

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

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

Star System Properties

ξ Ophiuchi 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 Ophiuchi double sysyem:

Main star magnitude 4.39

Secondary star magnitude 8.89

Magnitude difference 4.5

Separation 3.7 arcsec

Distance, Radial Speed, Proper Motion

ξ Ophiuchi is distant 56.72 light years from the Sun and it is moving towards the Sun at the speed of 9 kilometers per second.

Distance (parsec) 17.40

Distance (light year) 56.72

Radial Speed -9 km/s

Proper Motion RA 0.232 arcsec/y

Proper Motion Dec -0.206"/y

Alternative Designations

Bayer designation ξ Ophiuchi
(xi Ophiuchi)

Flamsteed designation 40 Ophiuchi

Henry Draper Catalogue HD156897

SAO Catalogue SAO185296

Hipparcos Catalogue HIP84893

Durchmusterung Catalogue BD-20 4731

Gliese Catalogue Gl 670 A

Visibility from Your Location

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

Azimuth: 111.1° RISE 14:19

Max altitude: 17.4° TRANSIT 18:22

Azimuth: 248.9° SET 22:24

Name:	Greenwich, UK
Latitude:	51° 28' 48.0" N
Longitude:	0° 0' 0.0" E
Timezone:	Europe/London

Location

Other stars in Ophiuchus