Star profile

Delta Delphinus

Variable star

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

What is Delta Delphinus

Delta Delphini is a pulsating white star belonging to the Delta Scuti family, giants that change brightness over a matter of hours. It forms part of the small diamond that outlines the body of the Dolphin, one of the tiniest and most endearing constellations of the summer sky. Its light, which takes more than two hundred and twenty years to arrive, beats to a rhythm of its own that escapes the naked eye.

Where it is and when to see it

Delta 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 54° 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. 5 in brightness among the 18 stars of Delphinus in our catalogue. To find it, start from Rotanev, the brightest: it lies about 2° 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 Delta Delphinus

Constellation: Delphinus
Apparent magnitude: 4.43
Distance: 223.3 light years
Coordinates (J2000): RA 310.865° · Dec 15.075°
Catalogue: HIP 102281 · HD 197461

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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