Yellow subgiant · Aquila

Alshain

Also known as: β Aquilae (β Aql), HIP 98036

mag 3.745 light-years

About

Alshain (β Aquilae) is a yellow subgiant of magnitude 3.7 in Aquila, about 45 light-years away.

Alshain is in the constellation Aquila.
Best evenings: around early 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 74° 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.

EyesVisible from the suburbs on a clear night, but lost in bright city skies.
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	Alshain
Designation	β Aquilae (β Aql)
Hipparcos number	HIP 98036
Type	Yellow subgiant
Spectral type	G8IVvar
Colour	Pale orangeB−V colour index 0.85
Magnitude	3.7The smaller the number, the brighter.
Distance	45 light-yearsThe light you see left it around 1981.
Proper motion	0.48″ per year across the sky
Constellation	Aquila
Right ascension (J2000)	19h 55m 18.8s
Declination (J2000)	+06° 24′ 24″