Star profile

Upsilon Boötis

3D likeness based on its real data · class K · ~4,200 K

What is Upsilon Boötis

υ Boötis is an orange giant burning in the Herdsman, the ancient figure who drives the Bears around the pole. Its amber tone reveals a star in an advanced phase, swollen after exhausting the hydrogen in its core. It glows discreetly alongside the great luminaries of the constellation, like a slow ember on the herdsman's staff.

Where it is and when to see it

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

From London it culminates about 54° above the horizon.
From New York it culminates about 65° above the horizon.
From Sydney it culminates about 40° above the horizon.

It can be seen from anywhere north of 74° S.

It ranks no. 10 in brightness among the 88 stars of Boötes in our catalogue. To find it, start from Arcturus, the brightest: it lies about 7° away (a fist at arm's length covers about 10°).

The light you see today left it about 260 years ago.

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Astronomical data for Upsilon Boötis

Constellation: Boötes
Apparent magnitude: 4.05
Distance: 263.5 light years
Coordinates (J2000): RA 207.369° · Dec 15.798°
Catalogue: HIP 67459 · HD 120477

A symbolic commemorative gift: neither the signature nor the chosen name implies ownership of the star or recognition by the IAU.

Other stars in Boötes

Boötes has 88 stars in Stelvia's catalogue. Here are a few of them.

See all 88 stars in Boötes