Bright stars · Aquila

Altair

Alpha Aquilae

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Details

Magnitude

0.77

Spectral type

A7V

Bayer

Alpha Aquilae

Distance

16.7 ly

A close, fast-spinning star — the southern corner of the Summer Triangle.

Beginner

What is it?

Altair is unusually close for a bright star — only 17 light-years away. It rotates so quickly that it is visibly flattened, spinning once every 9 hours.

What will I see?

Naked eye

A bright white star with a fainter star on each side. The three together are a distinctive pattern.

Reference imagery from long-exposure photography usually shows far more colour and structure than the human eye can see through a telescope.

Interesting facts

About 17 light-years away — one of our closest neighbours among bright stars.
Rotates once every ~9 hours (compared to the Sun's ~27 days).