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68 Cygni — Star in Cygnus

Magnitude 5.0m Star Cygnus (Cyg) Visible
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1Physical Properties

Magnitude 5.00
Range 4.98 - 5.09
Variable Type Ellipsoidal Variable
Spectral Type O7.5III:n((f)) giant
Star Color Blue-white (B-V -0.01)

2Position & Identifiers

RA 21h 18m 27.2s
Dec +43° 56' 45.0"
Constellation Cygnus (Cyg)
HR 8154
HIP 105186
HD 203064
SAO 50690
Flamsteed 68 Cyg
Variable ID V1809 Cyg
SIMBAD

3How easy to spot?

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Equipment Bortle 3 Bortle 4 Bortle 5
Naked eye Medium Medium Hard+
50mm finder Easy Easy Easy
150mm scope Easy Easy Easy
Easy Medium Hard Very hard Impossible

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

4Visibility

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Best season Jul – Sep (peak: Aug)

5Survey Image

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6

Size Comparison

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7

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8

Spectral Classification

9

Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram

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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

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14Stellar Notes

5.05 - 5.075V, 3.390d.
Cyg OB7; exciting star of HII region S119. Runaway star from Cep OB2 association?
Also classified O8V and O8III((f)). H alpha emission moderately intense 1959 to 1970; absorption increasing 1973-1976.

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.

NGC 7044
Medium+
Open cluster
Open Cluster mag 11.0 1.7° Cygnus
W Cyg
Easy
Semi-regular variable, range 5.1–6.8
Variable Star mag 5.53 3.4° Cygnus
North America Nebula
NGC 7000
Medium+
Emission nebula — try an OIII filter
Emission Nebula mag 5.0 3.5° Cygnus
60 Cyg
Hard+
Hot blue O-type star
Double Star mag 5.37 3.8° Cygnus
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