Menu

16 Cygni — Double Star in Cygnus

Observable Double Star Showpiece (75/100)

Sep: 39.9", Companion: mag 6.2

Magnitude 6.0m DoubleStar Cygnus (Cyg) Visible
Star Map
+ List + Plan Star Hop

Observe

1Physical Properties

Magnitude 5.96
Spectral Type G1.5Vb
Star Color Yellow (B-V 0.64)
Distance 84 ly

2Position & Identifiers

RA 19h 41m 48.9s
Dec +50° 31' 31.0"
Constellation Cygnus (Cyg)
HR 7503
HIP 96895
HD 186408
SAO 31898
Flamsteed 16 Cyg
Double Cat 12815
SIMBAD

3How easy to split?

Primary 6.0 mag Companion 6.2 mag Separation 39.9″
Sign in and configure your equipment and default location to see a personalized row.
Telescope Bortle 3 Bortle 4 Bortle 5
80mm refr. Easy Easy Easy
150mm Newt. Easy Easy Easy
C8 203mm Easy Easy Easy
Easy Medium Hard Very hard Impossible

Bortle 3 = rural · 4 = outer suburbs · 5 = suburbs

4Visibility

Set a location in User Settings to see visibility data.

Best season Jun – Aug (peak: Jul)

5Multiple Star System Triple

Components 3 (triple)
Component IDs AB
Separation 39.9″
Companion Mag 6.2
Companion Sp M5V
Position Angle 133°
Star Colors A: Yellow B: Red
Discoverer STFA 46
Binary with HR 7504. Third component mag. diff 7.17V, sep. 70" from A.

Separation over time

Period: 13512.7 y Eccentricity: 0.863 Now: 39.9", PA 133° + 0.06" in 5 years
0.00" 11.5" 23.1" 34.6" 46.1" 2025 2030 2035 2040 2045 39.9"

Apparent separation over time, computed from ORB6 orbital elements. Steep curves indicate fast-changing pairs — catch them while they're splittable.

Eyepiece View

Log in to set your own equipment
80x Dawes: 1.9″ TFOV: 0.6°
Realistic = true angular size
N E 133°

A: 6.0 · B: 6.2 · Sep: 39.9″ · PA: 133° · N up, E right

Resolved · Rayleigh: 2.3″ · Dawes: 1.9″ · Eff: 2.3″

Explore

6

Size Comparison

Querying VizieR for stellar data…
7

Compare Stars

8

Spectral Classification

9

Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram

Loading HR diagram…
Read: The Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram — Reading Stars Like a Map
10

Stellar Lifecycle

11

Blackbody Spectrum

12

Stellar Absorption Spectrum

Simulated absorption spectrum based on spectral type. Hover over lines to identify elements.

13

Stellar Fusion

Discover

14Stellar Notes

0.072".
15

Light Travel Time Machine

16

Relativistic Travel

Nearby in the Sky

Other targets within a few degrees — pan your scope a little and keep exploring.

Visibility scores assume a 150 mm Newton at Bortle 4.

Blinking Planetary
NGC 6826
Medium+
Small bright planetary nebula
Planetary Nebula mag 8.8 0.5° Cygnus
Psi Cyg
Medium+
Tight double — a rewarding split at 2.8″
Double Star mag 4.92 2.9° Cygnus
NGC 6811
Easy
Rich open cluster
Open Cluster mag 6.8 4.0° Cygnus
V1143 Cyg
Medium
Eclipsing binary, period 7.6d
Variable Star mag 5.82 4.5° Cygnus
Fawaris
HIP 97165; Delta Cygni; 18 Cygni
Medium
Colorful double, sep 2.8″
Double Star mag 2.87 5.4° Cygnus
32 Cyg
Easy
Colorful double, sep 208.5″
Double Star mag 3.98 6.2° Cygnus
Show on Map

Explore Nightbase

Related knowledge, tools, and stories — no observation planning required.

Double Stars — A Guide for Observers
Two suns where one appeared — how to find, split, and appreciate the night sky's finest pairs. From Albireo's gold-and-blue to the Sirius B challenge.
Article
Cygnus
Mythology, bright stars, and deep-sky highlights.
Constellation
Jupiter
The Great Red Spot, cloud belts, and the Galilean moons.
Deep dive
}