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Xi Cygni — Star in Cygnus

Magnitude 3.7–3.8m Star Cygnus (Cyg) Visible
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1Physical Properties

Magnitude 3.72
Range 3.67 - 3.79
Variable Type LC
Spectral Type K4:Ib-
Star Color Orange (B-V 1.65) (reddened by dust)
Distance 841 ly

2Position & Identifiers

RA 21h 04m 55.9s
Dec +43° 55' 40.0"
Constellation Cygnus (Cyg)
HR 8079
HIP 104060
HD 200905
SAO 50424
Bayer Xi
Flamsteed 62 Cyg
SIMBAD

3How easy to spot?

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Equipment Bortle 3 Bortle 4 Bortle 5
Naked eye Easy Medium+ Medium+
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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Explore

7

Size Comparison

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8

Compare Stars

9

Spectral Classification

10

Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram

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Read: The Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram — Reading Stars Like a Map
11

Stellar Lifecycle

12

Blackbody Spectrum

13

Stellar Absorption Spectrum

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

14

Stellar Fusion

Discover

15Stellar Notes

9.1v A2 companion.
Ultraviolet FeII emission.
16

Light Travel Time Machine

17

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.

Collinder 428
Easy
Open cluster
Open Cluster mag 8.7 0.7° Cygnus
North America Nebula
NGC 7000
Medium+
Emission nebula — try an OIII filter
Emission Nebula mag 5.0 1.1° Cygnus
68 Cyg
Easy
Hot blue O-type star
Star mag 5.00 2.4° Cygnus
W Cyg
Easy
Semi-regular variable, range 5.1–6.8
Variable Star mag 5.53 5.7° Cygnus
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