Orange giant · Cygnus

Aljanah

Also known as: ε Cygni (ε Cyg), HIP 102488

mag 2.573 light-years

About

Aljanah (ε Cygni) is an orange giant of magnitude 2.5 in Cygnus, about 73 light-years away.

Aljanah is in the constellation Cygnus.
Best evenings: around mid-September 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 46° S.
Star patterns: Northern Cross.

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.

EyesEasy, even from town. It has a clear orange tint.
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	Aljanah
Designation	ε Cygni (ε Cyg)
Hipparcos number	HIP 102488
Type	Orange giant
Spectral type	K0III
Colour	Pale orangeB−V colour index 1.02
Magnitude	2.5The smaller the number, the brighter.
Distance	73 light-yearsThe light you see left it around 1953.
Proper motion	0.49″ per year across the sky
Constellation	Cygnus
Right ascension (J2000)	20h 46m 12.6s
Declination (J2000)	+33° 58′ 13″