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Aldhibah

Also known as ζ Dra · HR 6396

Aldhibah is a double or multiple star in the constellation Draco, about 420 light-years from Earth.

Aldhibah: a sky-survey photograph of its field
Sky survey view (DSS2 colour, or a backup survey)

Facts

TypeDouble or multiple star (spectral type B8III)
ConstellationDraco
Position (J2000)17h 08m 47s, +65° 42′
Distance420 light-years (its light set off about 420 years ago)
Brightnessmagnitude 3.17 (smaller is brighter; the faintest stars the eye sees are about 6)
Studied in250 scientific papers (SIMBAD)

When and how to see it

Aldhibah is highest in the sky at midnight in June. From India (about 20° N) it climbs to about 44° above the horizon; from 50° N, to about 74°. To see it you need the naked eye, even from a town.

Heights are worked out for India and for 50° N. Set your location in Settings to see them for where you are.

For tonight's best time from your own town, the darkness and the Moon, open it on the map and see its "Tonight from your location" card.

More in Draco

Everything in Draco · All 88 constellations · All sky objects

Data: SIMBAD (CDS, Strasbourg; the site's weekly copy) · Data sources & credits