Rastaban
Rastaban (β Draconis) is a yellow supergiant star in the constellation Draco. With an apparent magnitude of 2.79 it is the 130th-brightest star in the night sky, and it is about 398 light-years from Earth.
Free to use with credit: Atlas of the Sky (constellationmap.org), CC BY 4.0 · More
Embed this image on your website
Facts
| Constellation | Draco |
|---|---|
| Designation | β Draconis (Beta Draconis), HR 6536 |
| Apparent magnitude | 2.79 (130th brightest) |
| Spectral type | G2Ib-IIa |
| Color | yellow (B−V 0.98) |
| Distance | about 398 light-years |
| Right ascension | 17 h 30.4 min |
| Declination | +52.30° |
| Best month | July (at about 9 pm) |
How to find Rastaban
Rastaban is in Draco. From 40° N it never sets; it is highest in the north, about 78° up. From 35° S it reaches about 3° in the north. Nearby bright stars: Eltanin (4° away), Vega (18° away) and Kochab (27° away).
Where on Earth can you see Rastaban?
Rastaban is best seen in the evening in July. The table shows, for different latitudes, whether it ever rises and how high it climbs when it crosses the meridian.
| Latitude | Visibility | Highest point |
|---|---|---|
| 60° N (Oslo, Helsinki) | Never sets | 82° (south) |
| 50° N (Frankfurt, Prague) | Never sets | 88° (north) |
| 40° N (New York, Madrid, Beijing) | Never sets | 78° (north) |
| 30° N (Cairo, New Orleans) | Rises and sets | 68° (north) |
| 20° N (Mexico City, Mumbai) | Rises and sets | 58° (north) |
| 0° (Quito, Nairobi) | Rises and sets | 38° (north) |
| 20° S (Rio de Janeiro area) | Rises and sets | 18° (north) |
| 35° S (Sydney, Buenos Aires) | Rises and sets | 3° (north) |
| 45° S (Dunedin, southern Patagonia) | Never rises | — |
How far away is Rastaban?
Rastaban is about 398 light-years from Earth. The light you see tonight left the star around the year 1630. That is about 91 times farther than Alpha Centauri, the nearest star system to the Sun.
What kind of star is Rastaban?
Rastaban has the spectral type G2Ib-IIa. Stars of class G have surface temperatures of about 5,200 to 6,000 kelvin, which makes them look yellow. It is a supergiant: a massive star late in its life, far larger and many thousands of times more luminous than the Sun.
Messier objects near Rastaban
Within 12° of Rastaban (about the width of a fist at arm's length) lie Messier 92 (M92) at 9°.
Questions about Rastaban
How far away is Rastaban?
About 398 light-years. The light we see today left it around the year 1630.
What color is Rastaban?
Rastaban looks yellow. Its spectral type is G2Ib-IIa, which means a surface temperature of about 5,200 to 6,000 kelvin.
Can you see Rastaban from the Northern Hemisphere?
Yes. From 40° N it never sets and can be seen on every clear night, highest 78° high in the north.
Can you see Rastaban from the Southern Hemisphere?
Yes. From 35° S it rises and sets; at its highest it stands 3° high in the north.
When is the best time to see Rastaban?
In the evening in July, when it is highest at about 9 pm. It is 2.79 magnitude, the 130th-brightest star in the night sky.