When is the best time to observe Iota Cygni?

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

Where is Iota Cygni located in the sky?

Iota Cygni lies in the constellation Cygnus at right ascension 19h 30m and declination +51° 44′.

What telescope do I need to see Iota Cygni?

At magnitude 3.8, Iota Cygni is visible to the naked eye from dark skies, easy in any binoculars.

Iota Cygni — Star in Cygnus

HIP 95853; Iota2 Cygni; 10 Cygni

Magnitude 3.8^m Star Cygnus (Cyg) Visible

Star Map + List + Plan

About Iota Cyg

Description

Iota Cygni is an A-type main-sequence star of spectral class A4 Vn about 121 light-years away. It lies on the eastern side of the Northern Cross asterism, between Deneb and the Cygnus body. At magnitude 3.79 it is a solid naked-eye object, and its rapid rotation produces broadened spectral lines typical of young A-type dwarfs. No visual companion resolves in amateur scopes.

Observing Tips

Iota Cyg marks the western part of the Cygnus wing, a few degrees from Deneb. It lies in the thick of the summer Milky Way, so the field is packed with faint background stars in any small telescope. Best observed June through November.

History

Iota Cyg has no widely-used traditional name. Its IAU designation remains "Iota Cygni," though amateur astronomers sometimes refer to it as one of the "body stars" of the swan.

Fun Facts

Iota Cygni lies in a star-rich part of the Milky Way, and sweeps with binoculars reveal dozens of fainter Cygnus-associated stars in the same field. The North America Nebula (NGC 7000) and Pelican Nebula lie only a few degrees to the east, making Iota a natural starting point for exploring that region.