Deneb
star · Cygnus · 1.3ᵐ
One of the most luminous supergiants known — some 200,000 times brighter than the Sun, yet 2,600 light years away.
Notable facts
The light you see today left Deneb around the year 614.
About 79 times brighter than the faintest star visible to the naked eye.
In brief
Which constellation is Deneb in?
Deneb lies in Cygnus.
Is Deneb visible to the naked eye?
1.3ᵐ — visible to the naked eye (under dark skies).
When is the best time to observe Deneb?
Best observed in July.
Data
- RA / Dec (J2000)
- 20h 41m · +45° 17′
- Type
- star
- Constellation
- Cygnus
- How to observe
- 1.3ᵐ — visible to the naked eye (under dark skies)
- Spectral class
- A2Ia — white star
- Absolute magnitude
- -6.9ᵐ
- Luminosity
- ≈50,582 × the Sun
- Distance
- ~1,412 light years
- Designation
- HIP 102098
Observing tip
Stars stay points at any magnification: aim your telescope for colour, brightness and companions, not detail.
Altitude above the horizon by latitude
| Latitude | Maximum altitude | Rise azimuth |
|---|---|---|
| +60° | 75° · never sets | — |
| +55° | 80° · never sets | — |
| +45° | 90° · never sets | — |
| +30° | 75° | 35° |
| 0° | 45° | 45° |
| −35° | 10° | 30° |
Geometric altitude at upper culmination, atmospheric refraction not included. Positive latitudes are in the northern hemisphere.
Culmination time by month
| Month | Culmination |
|---|---|
| January | 12:56 |
| February | 10:49 |
| March | 09:03 |
| April | 07:10 |
| May | 05:16 |
| June | 03:09 |
| July | 01:06 |
| August | 23:05 |
| September | 21:12 |
| October | 19:23 |
| November | 17:22 |
| December | 15:14 |
Upper culmination in local solar time — no time-zone or daylight-saving correction applied.