This image shows the change in position of the double star 61 Cygni. Compare the position of 61 Cygni to the background stars.

61 Cygni A & B

What's in a Name: Double Star designated 61 in Cygnus the Swan
Claim to Fame: Some of the closest stars to the sun(13th closest). Moving very rapidly through space as seen from Earth at a rate of ~45,000 miles per hour (72,000 km/hr)
Type of Star: Orange-red Main Sequence (Spectral Class K3.5 and K4)
How Far Away: 11.3 light years
How Big: 1/2 and 2.4 times the sun's radius
How Bright: 1/12 and 1/26 of the sun's visible brightness
Where to View: Barely visible to the unaided eye on a dark, moonless night. Located in Cygnus the Swan, also called the Northern Cross (Star Map).
When to View: June through November from northern middle latitudes.

Last modified February 24, 2005 by Travis Metcalfe.

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