Yellow bright giant · Draco

Rastaban

Also known as: β Draconis (β Dra), HIP 85670

mag 2.8380 light-years

About

Rastaban (β Draconis) is a yellow bright giant of magnitude 2.8 in Draco, about 380 light-years away.

Rastaban is in the constellation Draco.
Best evenings: around late 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 28° S.
Star patterns: Head of Draco.

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	Rastaban
Designation	β Draconis (β Dra)
Hipparcos number	HIP 85670
Type	Yellow bright giant
Spectral type	G2II
Colour	Pale orangeB−V colour index 0.95
Magnitude	2.8The smaller the number, the brighter.
Distance	380 light-yearsThe light you see left it around 1650.
Proper motion	0.019″ per year across the sky
Constellation	Draco
Right ascension (J2000)	17h 30m 26.0s
Declination (J2000)	+52° 18′ 05″

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