Star profile
Alsafi
Sigma Draco · Draco
Nearby starWhat is Alsafi
Alsafi is an orange star just 18.8 light-years from the Earth, a very close neighbour set in the tail of Draco, one of the oldest constellations of the northern hemisphere sky. Its name comes from the Arabic «al-athafi», the copper tripods on which a Bedouin camp's cooking pot rested above the open fire during the long, cold nights spent in the open desert. It is among the most closely studied Sun-like stars by modern astronomers, prized for its advanced age and its remarkably quiet behaviour throughout the period of recorded observation.
Where it is and when to see it
Alsafi lies in the northern celestial hemisphere. It is visible to the naked eye under a dark sky. Its best month of the year is October, when it culminates around midnight.
- From London it never sets and culminates about 72° up.
- From New York it never sets and culminates about 61° up.
- From Sydney it never rises above the horizon.
It can be seen from anywhere north of 20° S.
It ranks no. 22 in brightness among the 122 stars of Draco in our catalogue. To find it, start from Eltanin, the brightest: it lies about 21° away (a fist at arm's length covers about 10°).
The light you see today left it about 19 years ago.
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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 Alsafi
- Constellation
- Draco
- Apparent magnitude
- 4.67
- Distance
- 18.8 light years
- Coordinates (J2000)
- RA 293.087° · Dec 69.661°
- Catalogue
- HIP 96100 · HD 185144
A symbolic commemorative gift: neither the signature nor the chosen name implies ownership of the star or recognition by the IAU.
Other stars in Draco
Draco has 122 stars in Stelvia's catalogue. Here are a few of them.
- EltaninGamma Draco2.24
- AthebyneEta Draco2.73
- RastabanBeta Draco2.79
- 10 Draco4.58
- Pi Draco4.60
- Omicron Draco4.63
- Omega Draco4.77
- 45 Draco4.77