When is the best time to observe Altair?

Altair is best observed from June through August, with peak visibility during July when it transits around midnight in the Northern Hemisphere.

Where is Altair located in the sky?

Altair lies in the constellation Aquila at right ascension 19h 51m and declination +08° 52′.

What telescope do I need to see Altair?

At magnitude 0.8, Altair is visible to the naked eye under most conditions.

Altair — Star in Aquila

HIP 97649; Alpha Aquilae; 53 Aquilae

Magnitude 0.8^m Star Aquila (Aql) Visible

Star Map + List + Plan

About Altair

Description

Altair is the twelfth brightest star in the sky at magnitude 0.77, a white main-sequence star of spectral type A7V located only 16.7 light-years from Earth. It rotates very rapidly — completing one full rotation in about 10 hours compared to the Sun's 25 days — causing it to be measurably oblate. Its luminosity is about 11 times solar.

Observing Tips

Altair is the southernmost vertex of the Summer Triangle, flanked by two dimmer stars (Beta and Gamma Aquilae) that form a distinctive line. It is easy to find in the summer and autumn evening sky. Its slightly yellowish-white color and flanking stars make it instantly recognizable. Best observed June through November.

History

The name Altair comes from the Arabic 'al-nasr al-ta'ir,' meaning 'the flying eagle.' In the East Asian legend of Qixi (the Chinese Valentine's Day), Altair represents the cowherd separated from his beloved weaver girl (Vega) by the Milky Way, allowed to meet once a year. Altair was one of the first stars to be directly imaged by interferometry, in 2007.

Fun Facts

The 2007 interferometric image of Altair was one of the first resolved images of a main-sequence star other than the Sun, clearly showing its oblate shape caused by rapid rotation. Altair's equator bulges out about 22% more than its poles.