Altair

HR 7557 · HIP 97649 · α Aql

👁️ Naked-eye

📋 A written introduction is coming — for now this page shows official values only.

Star

Apparent magnitude: 0.76 mag
Parallax: 194.95 mas → about 16.7 light-years away
Spectral type: A7IV-V
Right ascension: 297.6958°
Declination: 8.8683°
Designation: HR 7557
Bayer designation: α Aql
HIP number: 97649
IAU name adopted: 2016-06-30
Name language: Arabic
Name origin (IAU): Applied with various spellings since medieval times, from an abbreviation of its Arabic name al-nars al-ta)ir, "the Flying Eagle (or Vulture)", alternatively used as an asterism name for α, β and γ Aql. The name has probable origins among the Babylonians and Sumerians, for whom α Aql was "the Eagle Star".

Constellation

Light from this object takes about 17 years to reach Earth — the light you see tonight left around AD 2009 (official distance ÷ speed of light).
At magnitude 0.8 it is bright enough for the naked eye (limit about 6) — look from somewhere dark.
Declination 8.9° — it rises above the horizon in Seoul (37.6° N), so it is visible from Korea in the right season.