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Boötes constellation

Boötes is a constellation of the northern sky. Its brightest star is Arcturus. Visibility at mid-northern latitudes (52° N): rises and sets, fully visible.

  • Springbest seen
  • Arcturusbrightest star, magnitude −0.1
  • BooBoötes
Show on the sky map
The constellation Boötes in the starry sky: its figure and its bright stars Arcturus, Boötes — magnitude −0.1. Open on the sky mapArcturusAlkaid, Ursa Major — magnitude 1.9. Open on the sky mapAlphecca, Corona Borealis — magnitude 2.2. Open on the sky mapMizar, Ursa Major — magnitude 2.2. Open on the sky mapIzar, Boötes — magnitude 2.4. Open on the sky mapIzarMuphrid, Boötes — magnitude 2.7. Open on the sky mapMuphridKornephoros, Hercules — magnitude 2.8. Open on the sky mapζ Herculis — magnitude 2.8. Open on the sky mapVindemiatrix, Virgo — magnitude 2.9. Open on the sky mapCor Caroli, Canes Venatici — magnitude 2.9. Open on the sky mapSeginus, Boötes — magnitude 3.0. Open on the sky mapSeginusThiba, Boötes — magnitude 3.5. Open on the sky mapThibaNekkar, Boötes — magnitude 3.5. Open on the sky mapρ Boötis — magnitude 3.6. Open on the sky mapζ Boötis — magnitude 3.8. Open on the sky mapAsellus Primus, Boötes — magnitude 4.0. Open on the sky mapυ Boötis — magnitude 4.0. Open on the sky mapXuange, Boötes — magnitude 4.2. Open on the sky mapAlkalurops, Boötes — magnitude 4.3. Open on the sky mapσ Boötis — magnitude 4.5. Open on the sky mapπ¹ Boötis — magnitude 4.5. Open on the sky mapτ Boötis — magnitude 4.5. Open on the sky mapAulad Alnathlat, Boötes — magnitude 4.5. Open on the sky mapAsellus Tertius, Boötes — magnitude 4.5. Open on the sky mapξ Boötis — 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 Boötes

Follow the arc of the Big Dipper’s handle — it leads to orange Arcturus, the brightest star of the northern half of the sky. The constellation looks like a kite with Arcturus at its base.

Best seen in spring: in May around 22:00 it is highest above the southern horizon — the center of the figure rises to about 71°.

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
Arcturusα Boötis −0.1orangeabout 37 light years
Izarε Boötis 2.4orange—
Muphridη Boötis 2.7yellow—
Seginusγ Boötis 3.0bluish white—
Thibaδ Boötis 3.5orange—
Nekkarβ Boötis 3.5orange—
ρ Boötis 3.6orange—
ζ Boötis 3.8bluish white—
Asellus Primusθ Boötis 4.0yellow—
υ Boötis 4.0orange—
Xuangeλ Boötis 4.2bluish white—
Alkaluropsμ¹ Boötis 4.3white—

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 Boötes in the sky?

Follow the arc of the Big Dipper’s handle — it leads to orange Arcturus, the brightest star of the northern half of the sky. The constellation looks like a kite with Arcturus at its base.

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

In spring: in May 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 Boötes?

Arcturus: magnitude −0.1, orange. Distance: about 37 light years.

How many stars are there in the constellation Boötes?

With the naked eye on a perfectly dark night — with no light pollution and no Moon — you can see about 86 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.

Spring constellations

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