Blue-white main-sequence star · Cygnus

Albireo B

Also known as: β² Cygni (β² Cyg), HIP 95951

mag 5.1400 light-years

About

Albireo B (β² Cygni) is a blue-white main-sequence star of magnitude 5.1 in Cygnus, about 400 light-years away.

Albireo B is in the constellation Cygnus.
Best evenings: around late August it is highest at about 9 pm (10 pm in summer time); a month earlier, two hours later.
Where on Earth: it is seen well, at least 10° up, from north of 52° S.

When it rises and sets tonight, how high it climbs and how much the Moon gets in the way are worked out in your browser for your place.

EyesNeeds a dark sky away from city lights.
Binoculars (10×50)A sharp point; binoculars bring out its colour and the fainter stars around it.
Telescope (6–8 inch)Still a point of light at any magnification — stars are too far away to show a disc. Low in the sky, bright stars twinkle and flash colours.

Stars look the same in any instrument: brighter and sharper, but never bigger.

Proper name	Albireo B
Designation	β² Cygni (β² Cyg)
Hipparcos number	HIP 95951
Type	Blue-white main-sequence star
Spectral type	B8V
Colour	WhiteB−V colour index −0.10
Magnitude	5.1The smaller the number, the brighter.
Distance	400 light-yearsThe light you see left it around 1630.
Proper motion	0.002″ per year across the sky
Constellation	Cygnus
Right ascension (J2000)	19h 30m 45.4s
Declination (J2000)	+27° 57′ 55″