Skip to content
AsteriaStar
Subgiant · Hercules

Zeta Herculis

Knowledge graphZeta Her40 HerHR 6212HD 150680

Scientific overview

Zeta Herculis is a subgiant in the constellation Hercules (Herculis), lying about 34.95 light-years from Earth.

Class F. Yellow-white stars, somewhat hotter and more massive than the Sun. Such stars have surface temperatures around 6,000–7,500 K and appear yellow-white to the eye.

Physical properties

Spectral typeF9IV
Luminosity classIV
Apparent magnitude2.81
Absolute magnitude2.66
Luminosity (Sun = 1)7.516
Colour index (B−V)0.65
Distance34.95 ly (10.72 pc)

Values are real catalogue data; fields without a reliable value are omitted, never estimated.

Precision measurements

Astrometry and astrophysics from SIMBAD

Parallax93.32 ± 0.47 masSIMBAD · measured
Proper motion (RA)-461.5 mas/yrSIMBAD · measured
Proper motion (Dec)342.3 mas/yrSIMBAD · measured
Radial velocity-67.8 ± 0.2 km/sSIMBAD · measured
Spectral typeG0IVSIMBAD · catalogued
Right ascension (ICRS)250.3 degSIMBAD · measured
Declination (ICRS)31.6027 degSIMBAD · measured
Full field-level provenance
  • Parallax: Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg (CDS) · SIMBAD · basic · plx_value · 2007A&A...474..653V · direct catalogue measurement · retrieved 2026-07-11
  • Proper motion (RA): Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg (CDS) · SIMBAD · basic · pmra · 2007A&A...474..653V · direct catalogue measurement · retrieved 2026-07-11
  • Proper motion (Dec): Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg (CDS) · SIMBAD · basic · pmdec · 2007A&A...474..653V · direct catalogue measurement · retrieved 2026-07-11
  • Radial velocity: Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg (CDS) · SIMBAD · basic · rvz_radvel · 2006AstL...32..759G · direct catalogue measurement · retrieved 2026-07-11
  • Spectral type: Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg (CDS) · SIMBAD · basic · sp_type · 1989ApJS...71..245K · catalogue identifier/value · retrieved 2026-07-11
  • Right ascension (ICRS): Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg (CDS) · SIMBAD · basic · ra · 2007A&A...474..653V · direct catalogue measurement · retrieved 2026-07-11
  • Declination (ICRS): Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg (CDS) · SIMBAD · basic · dec · 2007A&A...474..653V · direct catalogue measurement · retrieved 2026-07-11

measured = direct catalogue value · estimated = Bayesian inference (Bailer-Jones distance) · modeled = model output (Gaia GSP-Phot). Fields a source did not provide are omitted, never invented.

Evolution

A subgiant has begun to evolve off the main sequence, brightening and expanding as core hydrogen fusion ends.

Location in the sky

Constellation
Hercules
Hemisphere
Northern
Best seen
Summer (N. evening sky)
RA / Dec
16.6881h / 31.6027°

Knowledge connections

  • In constellationHercules

Sources

The primary and reference sources this topic draws on.

  • HYG DatabaseHYG Database (Hipparcos + Yale Bright Star + Gliese), by D. Nash / astronexus

    Aggregated, openly-licensed star catalogue combining Hipparcos, the Yale Bright Star Catalogue, and the Gliese Catalogue of Nearby Stars.

  • HipparcosESA Hipparcos space astrometry mission

    High-precision parallax, magnitude, and position for ~118,000 stars.