Star · A0III
Thuban
Thuban is a giant star of spectral type A0III in the constellation Draco, 260.6 light-years from the Sun.
| Other names | α Dra · HIP 68756 |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Draco |
| Distance | 260.6 light-years (79.9 pc) |
| Apparent magnitude | magnitude 3.67 |
| Absolute magnitude | magnitude −0.84 |
| Spectral type | A0III |
| Surface temperature | 10,780 K |
| Luminosity | 290 L☉ |
| Radius | 4.88 R☉ |
| Mass | 4.59 M☉ (estimated) |
| Right ascension (J2000) | 14h 04m 23.4s |
| Declination (J2000) | +64° 22′ 33″ |
| Space velocity (relative to the Sun) | 22.7 km/s |
In the sky
Visible to the naked eye under a dark sky (apparent magnitude 3.67). Visible from the whole Northern Hemisphere and south to latitude 26° S. North of latitude 26° N it never sets. It stands highest at midnight in April, the best time to observe it.
Through a telescope from Earth
Light's journey
The light you see tonight set out around the year 1765. At the speed of Voyager 1, the fastest craft leaving the Solar System (16.9 km per second), the trip would take 4.6 million years.
The Sun seen from there
From a planet around Thuban, the Sun would look like a star of magnitude 9.34, in the direction where our sky has the constellation Hydrus. It would be invisible to the naked eye.
Neighbours
Its nearest neighbours in the catalogue (within 20 light-years):
- HIP 69167 8.63 light-years
- HIP 70304 9.47 light-years
- HIP 69744 10.0 light-years
- HIP 70354 16.1 light-years
- HIP 70359 17.3 light-years
- HIP 67273 17.6 light-years
Position, brightness and colour from the HYG / AT-HYG catalogue; temperature, luminosity, radius and mass are approximate values computed from these observations.