Star profile

Zeta Delphinus

3D likeness based on its real data · class A · ~8,500 K

What is Zeta Delphinus

Zeta-4 Delphini is a white main-sequence star with a chemical oddity: a 2021 study placed it among the rare Lambda Boötis stars, a sparse group of suns conspicuously poor in surface heavy metals despite their otherwise normal nature. It glows at 220 light-years, inside the small diamond of Delphinus—one of the most compact and quietly elegant constellations of the northern summer sky.

Where it is and when to see it

Zeta Delphinus lies in the northern celestial hemisphere. It is visible to the naked eye under a dark sky. Its best month of the year is August, when it culminates around midnight.

From London it culminates about 53° above the horizon.
From New York it culminates about 64° above the horizon.
From Sydney it culminates about 41° above the horizon.

It can be seen from anywhere north of 75° S.

It ranks no. 6 in brightness among the 18 stars of Delphinus in our catalogue. To find it, start from Rotanev, the brightest: it lies about 1° away (a fist at arm's length covers about 10°).

The light you see today left it about 220 years ago.

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Astronomical data for Zeta Delphinus

Constellation: Delphinus
Apparent magnitude: 4.64
Distance: 220.1 light years
Coordinates (J2000): RA 308.827° · Dec 14.674°
Catalogue: HIP 101589 · HD 196180

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Other stars in Delphinus

Delphinus has 18 stars in Stelvia's catalogue. Here are a few of them.

See all 18 stars in Delphinus