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Aquila constellation

Aquila is a constellation near the celestial equator. Its brightest star is Altair. Visibility at mid-northern latitudes (52° N): rises and sets, fully visible.

  • Summerbest seen
  • Altairbrightest star, magnitude 0.8
  • AqlAquila
Show on the sky map
The constellation Aquila in the starry sky: its figure and its bright stars Altair, Aquila — magnitude 0.8. Open on the sky mapAltairTarazed, Aquila — magnitude 2.7. Open on the sky mapTarazedOkab, Aquila — magnitude 3.0. Open on the sky mapOkabθ Aquilae — magnitude 3.2. Open on the sky mapAlmizan, Aquila — magnitude 3.4. Open on the sky mapAlmizanAl Thalimain Prior, Aquila — magnitude 3.4. Open on the sky mapAl Thalimain PriorAlshain, Aquila — magnitude 3.7. Open on the sky mapη Aquilae — magnitude 3.9. Open on the sky mapDeneb al Okab Borealis, Aquila — magnitude 4.0. Open on the sky mapi Aquilae — magnitude 4.0. Open on the sky mapl Aquilae — magnitude 4.3. Open on the sky mapAl Thalimain Posterior, Aquila — magnitude 4.4. Open on the sky mapμ Aquilae — magnitude 4.5. Open on the sky map N ↑← E
North is up, east is left — this is how the constellation looks in the sky. Click a star to open it on the sky map.

How to find the constellation Aquila

Altair with two little stars on either side is the third corner of the Summer Triangle, the southernmost of the three.

Best seen in summer: in August around 22:00 it is highest above the southern horizon — the center of the figure rises to about 43°.

LocationVisibility
40° NMadrid, New York, Beijingrises and sets, fully visible
52° NLondon, Berlin, Warsawrises and sets, fully visible
60° NOslo, Helsinki, Saint Petersburgrises and sets, fully visible

Bright stars of the constellation

StarMagnitudeColorDistance
Altairα Aquilae 0.8whiteabout 16.7 light years
Tarazedγ Aquilae 2.7orange—
Okabζ Aquilae 3.0bluish white—
θ Aquilae 3.2bluish white—
Almizanδ Aquilae 3.4white—
Al Thalimain Priorλ Aquilae 3.4bluish white—
Alshainβ Aquilae 3.7yellow—
η Aquilae 3.9yellow—
Deneb al Okab Borealisε Aquilae 4.0orange—
i Aquilae 4.0orange—
l Aquilae 4.3orange—
Al Thalimain Posteriorι Aquilae 4.4bluish white—

Magnitude is a measure of a star’s brightness: the smaller the number, the brighter the star; on a dark night the naked eye can see stars down to magnitude 6.

Questions

How do you find the constellation Aquila in the sky?

Altair with two little stars on either side is the third corner of the Summer Triangle, the southernmost of the three.

When is the best time of year to observe the constellation Aquila?

In summer: in August around 22:00 the constellation is highest above the horizon. Two or three months earlier it can be seen before dawn, two or three months later only in the early evening, and half a year later it is in the sky during the day, near the Sun, and can’t be seen.

What is the brightest star in the constellation Aquila?

Altair: magnitude 0.8, white. Distance: about 16.7 light years.

How many stars are there in the constellation Aquila?

With the naked eye on a perfectly dark night — with no light pollution and no Moon — you can see about 72 stars in the constellation (brighter than magnitude 6, within the constellation’s boundaries). In a city far fewer: usually only the stars of its figure.

Summer constellations

Find it in the sky tonightA sky map over your city: where the constellation Aquila is now and when it will rise.
Open the sky map