White giant · Boötes

Seginus

Also known as: γ Boötis (γ Boo), HIP 71075

mag 3.087 light-years

About

Seginus (γ Boötis) is a white giant of magnitude 3.0 in Boötes, about 87 light-years away.

Seginus 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 42° 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	Seginus
Designation	γ Boötis (γ Boo)
Hipparcos number	HIP 71075
Type	White giant
Spectral type	A7IIIvar
Colour	Yellowish whiteB−V colour index 0.19
Magnitude	3.0The smaller the number, the brighter.
Distance	87 light-yearsThe light you see left it around 1939.
Proper motion	0.19″ per year across the sky
Constellation	Boötes
Right ascension (J2000)	14h 32m 04.7s
Declination (J2000)	+38° 18′ 30″

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