White giant · Draco

Thuban

Also known as: α Draconis (α Dra), HIP 68756

mag 3.7300 light-years

About

Thuban (α Draconis) is a white giant of magnitude 3.7 in Draco, about 300 light-years away.

Thuban is in the constellation Draco.
Best evenings: around early 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 16° 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	Thuban
Designation	α Draconis (α Dra)
Hipparcos number	HIP 68756
Type	White giant
Spectral type	A0III SB
Colour	WhiteB−V colour index −0.05
Magnitude	3.7The smaller the number, the brighter.
Distance	300 light-yearsThe light you see left it around 1720.
Proper motion	0.059″ per year across the sky
Constellation	Draco
Right ascension (J2000)	14h 04m 23.4s
Declination (J2000)	+64° 22′ 33″

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