White supergiant · Cygnus

Deneb

Also known as: α Cygni (α Cyg), HIP 102098

mag 1.31,400 light-years

About

Deneb (α Cygni) is a white supergiant of magnitude 1.3 in Cygnus, about 1,400 light-years away.

Deneb 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 35° S.
Star patterns: Summer Triangle, 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.

EyesA first-magnitude star, obvious even from a city.
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	Deneb
Designation	α Cygni (α Cyg)
Hipparcos number	HIP 102098
Type	White supergiant
Spectral type	A2Ia
Colour	WhiteB−V colour index 0.09
Magnitude	1.3The smaller the number, the brighter.
Distance	1,400 light-yearsThe light you see left it around AD 600. Distances this large are uncertain by 10% or more.
Proper motion	0.002″ per year across the sky
Constellation	Cygnus
Right ascension (J2000)	20h 41m 25.9s
Declination (J2000)	+45° 16′ 49″