Star profile

Iota Capricorni

Variable star

3D likeness based on its real data · class G · ~5,500 K

What is Iota Capricorni

Iota Capricorni is a yellow giant 197 light-years away, set in the lowland of the Celestial Sea where ancient Babylon already pictured the goat-fish more than three thousand years ago. A small-amplitude variable, it drifts gently around magnitude four while burning helium deep inside its core. Its golden hue stands out clearly against the whiter stars that trace the triangular outline of Capricornus across the southern autumn sky.

Where it is and when to see it

Iota Capricorni lies in the southern 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 22° above the horizon.
From New York it culminates about 32° above the horizon.
From Sydney it culminates about 73° above the horizon.

It can be seen from anywhere south of 73° N.

It ranks no. 9 in brightness among the 48 stars of Capricornus in our catalogue. To find it, start from Deneb Algedi, the brightest: it lies about 6° away (a fist at arm's length covers about 10°).

The light you see today left it about 200 years ago.

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Astronomical data for Iota Capricorni

Constellation: Capricornus
Apparent magnitude: 4.28
Distance: 196.7 light years
Coordinates (J2000): RA 320.562° · Dec -16.835°
Catalogue: HIP 105515 · HD 203387

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Other stars in Capricornus

Capricornus has 48 stars in Stelvia's catalogue. Here are a few of them.

See all 48 stars in Capricornus