- Stars with a name
- Rasalgethi
Rasalgethi
α¹ Herculis
Rasalgethi is a red giant, in the constellation Hercules. The light you see from it tonight left it around 1666.
Where to find it
From mid-northern latitudes, such as New York, Rome or Tokyo, it is best seen in the evening sky in May, June, July, August, and September.
Visible to the naked eye away from the brightest lights. Apparent magnitude 2.78.
What it’s like
It gives off 818 times as much light as the Sun.
Its surface is at about 4,400 degrees.
It is 359.6 light years away: 3402 trillion kilometres.