Altair (53Alp Aql) — Aquila · Gaia DR3 HYG-HIP-97649

Altair: A brilliant star within the Aql constellation, known as a triple star system. Located approximately 36 light-years from Earth, Altair is an aged orange dwarf star with a magnitude of 0.76. Its celestial significance derives from its prominence wit

This star’s familiarity stems directly from its role as a ‘bright star,’ or a “star of the night,” in the wide expanse of the sky. The designation of Altair simply points to the star's location, allowing for its identification in the constellations’ vast organization. Unlike many brighter stars, Altair's relatively stable position within the Milky Way’s galactic center, combined with historical astronomical observation, lends it a long-lasting significance for celestial charts and celestial history books. Its existence serves as a tangible reminder of how our solar system and surrounding regions are connected to the immense cosmic phenomena present.

Altair represents something of profound historical significance to astronomers and astrologers for centuries, specifically as the brightest star in a region of the heavens now considered part of the Aql region. Though it’s been noted throughout the history of stellar observation as a central object for identifying and mapping constellations, it is not directly connected to a particular astrological significance. The fact is, its magnitude provides a simple, universally understood marker on navigation charts.

How to see it

Altair has a visual magnitude of about 0.76: under a reasonably dark sky it is typically reachable with the unaided eye.

Sky position

Equatorial coordinates for Altair: right ascension 19h 50m 47s, declination +8° 52′ 6″ (J2000), in the region of the Aquila constellation (IAU figure Aql).

Aquila — Explore by constellation

Catalog context

Altair. It appears in classical and modern catalogs as Bayer/Flamsteed designation 53Alp Aql, HIP 97649, HD 187642, Gaia DR3 HYG-HIP-97649. In the SkyKeepsake Aquila (Aql) browse hub it sits with other stars of the same IAU figure.

Catalog identifiers

Gaia: Gaia DR3 HYG-HIP-97649
HIP: 97649
HD: 187642
gaia_dr3: HYG-HIP-97649
Bayer / Flamsteed: 53Alp Aql

Also known as

Observed properties

Visual magnitude: 0.76