Pale orange star · Boötes

Izar

Also known as: ε Boötis (ε Boo), HIP 72105

mag 2.4200 light-years

About

Izar (ε Boötis) is a pale orange star of magnitude 2.4 in Boötes, about 200 light-years away.

Izar is in the constellation Boötes.
Best evenings: around mid-June 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 53° 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. 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	Izar
Designation	ε Boötis (ε Boo)
Hipparcos number	HIP 72105
Type	Pale orange star
Spectral type	A0
Colour	Pale orangeB−V colour index 0.97
Magnitude	2.4The smaller the number, the brighter.
Distance	200 light-yearsThe light you see left it around 1820.
Proper motion	0.054″ per year across the sky
Constellation	Boötes
Right ascension (J2000)	14h 44m 59.2s
Declination (J2000)	+27° 04′ 27″

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