Star profile

Theta Boötis

Nearby star

3D likeness based on its real data · class F · ~6,500 K

What is Theta Boötis

Theta Boötis is a striking neighbour at 47 light-years, a yellow-white F-type star tucked into the Herdsman's cloak. A little hotter and more luminous than the Sun, it sits in that band of stars whose chemistry feels familiar enough to imagine possible planets. Every spring night we see it hanging near the tail of the Great Bear, almost within reach.

Where it is and when to see it

Theta 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 March, when it culminates around midnight.

From London it never sets and culminates about 90° up.
From New York it never sets and culminates about 79° up.
From Sydney it culminates about 4° above the horizon.

It can be seen from anywhere north of 38° S.

It ranks no. 9 in brightness among the 88 stars of Boötes in our catalogue. To find it, start from Arcturus, the brightest: it lies about 33° away (a fist at arm's length covers about 10°).

The light you see today left it about 47 years ago.

Find it on the sky map

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Leave your signature on Theta Boötis

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A public signature from a real person. The chosen name is a symbolic denomination within Stelvia, with no official standing or IAU recognition: the sky is not for sale and belongs to no one.

Astronomical data for Theta Boötis

Constellation: Boötes
Apparent magnitude: 4.04
Distance: 47.4 light years
Coordinates (J2000): RA 216.300° · Dec 51.851°
Catalogue: HIP 70497 · HD 126660

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