Star profile

Tarazed

Gamma Aquilae · Aquila

Highly luminous star

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

What is Tarazed

Tarazed is a luminous class-K giant burning 394 light-years away in the constellation Aquila. Its faintly orange tint contrasts with the intense white of Altair, its much closer neighbour, and together they form one of the most recognisable visual pairs of the northern summer. The name comes from the Persian «shahin tarazed», the striking balance, an old reference to the bird of prey that in medieval Persian astronomy flew over the ecliptic in search of quarry.

Where it is and when to see it

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

From London it culminates about 49° above the horizon.
From New York it culminates about 60° above the horizon.
From Sydney it culminates about 45° above the horizon.

It can be seen from anywhere north of 79° S.

It ranks no. 2 in brightness among the 72 stars of Aquila in our catalogue. To find it, start from Altair, the brightest: it lies about 2° away (a fist at arm's length covers about 10°).

The light you see today left it about 390 years ago.

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Astronomical data for Tarazed

Constellation: Aquila
Apparent magnitude: 2.72
Distance: 394.9 light years
Coordinates (J2000): RA 296.565° · Dec 10.613°
Catalogue: HIP 97278 · HD 186791

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Other stars in Aquila

Aquila has 72 stars in Stelvia's catalogue. Here are a few of them.

See all 72 stars in Aquila