Yellow giant · Draco

Athebyne

Also known as: η Draconis (η Dra), HIP 80331

mag 2.792 light-years

About

Athebyne (η Draconis) is a yellow giant of magnitude 2.7 in Draco, about 92 light-years away.

Athebyne is in the constellation Draco.
Best evenings: around mid-July 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 18° 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.

EyesEasy, even from town.
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	Athebyne
Designation	η Draconis (η Dra)
Hipparcos number	HIP 80331
Type	Yellow giant
Spectral type	G8III
Colour	Pale orangeB−V colour index 0.91
Magnitude	2.7The smaller the number, the brighter.
Distance	92 light-yearsThe light you see left it around 1934.
Proper motion	0.059″ per year across the sky
Constellation	Draco
Right ascension (J2000)	16h 23m 59.5s
Declination (J2000)	+61° 30′ 51″

Star data: HYG Database by David Nash, CC BY-SA 4.0. All data sources →