Star profile

6 Boötis

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

What is 6 Boötis

6 Boötis is an orange-red K4III giant, an aged star long past the main sequence whose radius has swollen to roughly 41 times that of the Sun. Its effective temperature hovers near 4,420 K, cooler than our own star, which gives it that warm cast within the Herdsman. It belongs to a binary system and remains a naked-eye object from the north at 401 light-years.

Where it is and when to see it

6 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 60° above the horizon.
From New York it culminates about 71° above the horizon.
From Sydney it culminates about 35° above the horizon.

It can be seen from anywhere north of 69° S.

It ranks no. 29 in brightness among the 88 stars of Boötes in our catalogue. To find it, start from Arcturus, the brightest: it lies about 6° away (a fist at arm's length covers about 10°).

The light you see today left it about 400 years ago.

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Astronomical data for 6 Boötis

Constellation: Boötes
Apparent magnitude: 4.92
Distance: 401.2 light years
Coordinates (J2000): RA 207.428° · Dec 21.264°
Catalogue: HIP 67480 · HD 120539

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Other stars in Boötes

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

See all 88 stars in Boötes