W Cygni — Variable Star in Cygnus
Excellent (66/100)
Observe
1Physical Properties
Magnitude
5.53
Range
5.10 - 6.83
Period
132 days
Variable Type
Semi-Regular Variable (Late-type Giant)
Spectral Type
M5IIIae
bright giant
Star Color
Red
(B-V 1.58)
2Position & Identifiers
RA
21h 36m 02.4s
Dec
+45° 22' 29.0"
Constellation
Cygnus
(Cyg)
HR
8262
HIP
106642
HD
205730
SAO
51079
Variable ID
W Cyg
Querying VizieR catalog...
3How easy to follow?
Magnitude
5.1 – 6.8 mag
Amplitude
1.7 mag
Period
131.7 d
Type
SRB
Sign in
and configure your equipment and default location to see a personalized row.
| Equipment | Bortle 3 | Bortle 4 | Bortle 5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Naked eye Naked eye | V. hard+ | V. hard | V. hard |
| 50 mm finder 50mm finder | Easy | Easy | Easy |
| 150 mm telescope 150mm scope | 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
Jul – Sep
(peak: Aug)
5Survey Image
Loading survey image…
6Light Curve
7Comparison Stars for W Cyg (5.1–6.8)
Nearby stable stars for estimating brightness (AAVSO)
Loading comparison stars…
Explore
8
Size Comparison
Querying VizieR for stellar data…
9
Compare Stars
10
Spectral Classification
11
Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram
Loading HR diagram…
12
Stellar Lifecycle
13
Blackbody Spectrum
14
Stellar Absorption Spectrum
Simulated absorption spectrum based on spectral type. Hover over lines to identify elements.
15
Stellar Fusion
Discover
16Stellar Notes
SRb 6.8 - 8.9p, 131.1d; secondary period 235.3d.
Hyades group.
Also classified M4e-M6eIII.
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.
V1339 Cyg
Semi-regular variable, range 5.9–7.1
Variable Star
mag 6.17
1.1°
Cygnus
NGC 7082
Open cluster
Open Cluster
mag 7.2
2.1°
Cygnus
Cocoon Nebula
IC 5146
Emission nebula — try an OIII filter
Emission Nebula
mag 10.0
3.5°
Cygnus
AR Lac
Eclipsing binary, period 2.0d
Variable Star
mag 6.11
5.7°
Lacerta
V460 Cyg
Semi-regular variable, range 5.6–7.0
Variable Star
mag 6.07
9.9°
Cygnus
Explore Nightbase
Related knowledge, tools, and stories — no observation planning required.
Arthur Eddington
1919 eclipse expedition confirming general relativity; first theory of stellar interiors; the Eddington limit
Biography
Variable Stars — A Guide for Observers
A practical guide to visual observation of variable stars: estimating magnitudes, finding comparison stars, recording data, and contributing to science with AAVSO.
Article
Cygnus
Mythology, bright stars, and deep-sky highlights.
Constellation
