Star · F1IV
τ Cyg
τ Cyg is a subgiant star of spectral type F1IV in the constellation Cygnus, 66.3 light-years from the Sun.
| Other names | Gl 822.1A · HIP 104887 |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Cygnus |
| Distance | 66.3 light-years (20.3 pc) |
| Apparent magnitude | magnitude 3.74 |
| Absolute magnitude | magnitude 2.20 |
| Spectral type | F1IV |
| Surface temperature | 6,920 K |
| Luminosity | 11.2 L☉ |
| Radius | 2.33 R☉ |
| Mass | 1.83 M☉ (estimated) |
| Right ascension (J2000) | 21h 14m 47.5s |
| Declination (J2000) | +38° 02′ 43″ |
| Space velocity (relative to the Sun) | 48.6 km/s |
In the sky
Visible to the naked eye under a dark sky (apparent magnitude 3.74). Visible from the whole Northern Hemisphere and south to latitude 52° S. North of latitude 52° N it never sets. It stands highest at midnight in August, the best time to observe it.
Through a telescope from Earth
Light's journey
The light you see tonight set out around the year 1960. At the speed of Voyager 1, the fastest craft leaving the Solar System (16.9 km per second), the trip would take 1.2 million years.
The Sun seen from there
From a planet around τ Cyg, the Sun would look like a star of magnitude 6.37, in the direction where our sky has the constellation Vela. It would be visible to the naked eye.
Neighbours
Its nearest neighbours in the catalogue (within 20 light-years):
Position, brightness and colour from the HYG / AT-HYG catalogue; temperature, luminosity, radius and mass are approximate values computed from these observations.