α Aql in Aquila
Altair
From New York on October 13, 2026, Altair rises at 12:45 PM in the ENE, is highest at 7:18 PM (58° above the horizon in the S) and sets at 1:51 AM in the WNW.
In the 3D sky
The sky over New York turned towards Altair. Drag to look around.
Loading 3D view...
Drag to look around, pinch or scroll to zoom.
Evening visibility over the year
Height of Altair above the horizon at 10 pm local time on the 15th of each month, from New York.
Facts
| Brightness (apparent magnitude) | 0.76 |
|---|---|
| Rank among the night-sky stars | 12 |
| Distance | 17 light-years |
| Spectral type | A7IV-V |
| Colour | white |
| Constellation | Aquila |
| Bayer designation | α Aql |
| Hipparcos number | HIP 97649 |
| Position (J2000) | 19.846 h, 8.9° |
Star data: HYG Database (positions, magnitudes, parallax distances, spectral types). Positions for your location: Astronomy Engine, with precession and refraction. Calculated with Astronomy Engine, an open-source library verified against the US Naval Observatory and NASA JPL. Data sources
How to use this page
Choose your place and a night at the top. The page shows when the star rises, is highest and sets, where to look, and the star in 3D on the sky. The facts below give its brightness, distance, colour and type from the HYG star catalogue.
Frequently asked questions
How far away is this star?
The distance comes from its parallax, the small shift seen as Earth goes round the Sun, as measured by the Hipparcos and Gaia satellites and collected in the HYG catalogue.
Why do stars twinkle?
Turbulence in the air bends the starlight a little, many times a second. Stars low on the horizon twinkle most because their light passes through more air.
What does the colour of a star tell me?
Its surface temperature: red stars are the coolest and blue-white stars the hottest. The spectral type in the facts says the same in astronomers’ letters, from the hottest O to the coolest M.
Related guides
- Magnitude: how star brightness is measuredLower numbers mean brighter, and five magnitudes are a factor of 100 in brightness.
- How to learn the constellationsStart with one bright pattern you cannot miss, use it as a signpost to its neighbours, and come back a month later: the sky will have turned, and you will know a little more of it.
- Altitude and azimuth: finding things in the skyTwo angles tell you exactly where to look: which direction, and how high.