Yellow supergiant · Aquarius

Sadalsuud

Also known as: β Aquarii (β Aqr), HIP 106278

mag 2.9540 light-years

About

Sadalsuud (β Aquarii) is a yellow supergiant of magnitude 2.9 in Aquarius, about 540 light-years away.

Sadalsuud is in the constellation Aquarius.
Best evenings: around late 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 south of 74° N.

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	Sadalsuud
Designation	β Aquarii (β Aqr)
Hipparcos number	HIP 106278
Type	Yellow supergiant
Spectral type	G0Ib
Colour	YellowB−V colour index 0.83
Magnitude	2.9The smaller the number, the brighter.
Distance	540 light-yearsThe light you see left it around 1490.
Proper motion	0.024″ per year across the sky
Constellation	Aquarius
Right ascension (J2000)	21h 31m 33.5s
Declination (J2000)	−05° 34′ 16″