Red giant · Draco

Giausar

Also known as: λ Draconis (λ Dra), HIP 56211

mag 3.8330 light-years

About

Giausar (λ Draconis) is a red giant of magnitude 3.8 in Draco, about 330 light-years away.

Giausar is in the constellation Draco.
Best evenings: around late April 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 11° 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	Giausar
Designation	λ Draconis (λ Dra)
Hipparcos number	HIP 56211
Type	Red giant
Spectral type	M0IIIvar
Colour	Orange-redB−V colour index 1.61
Magnitude	3.8The smaller the number, the brighter.
Distance	330 light-yearsThe light you see left it around 1690.
Proper motion	0.045″ per year across the sky
Constellation	Draco
Right ascension (J2000)	11h 31m 24.3s
Declination (J2000)	+69° 19′ 52″

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