Rastaban is a yellow giant in the head of Draco, its Arabic name meaning the head of the serpent, beside its brighter twin Eltanin.
At a glance
| type | yellow giant (class G) |
|---|---|
| distance from the Sun | 380 light-years (117 pc) |
| its light left it | 380 years ago |
| luminosity | 974 × the Sun |
| radius | 31 × the Sun |
| surface temperature | 5,790 K |
| constellation | Draco (Dragon) |
Read off the piece’s own catalogue, the same values it draws with.
About Rastaban
Rastaban, Beta Draconis, is a luminous yellow giant whose surface is close to the Sun’s temperature but whose output is far greater. It has a faint companion close to it.
With Eltanin, Grumium and a fainter fourth star it forms the lozenge of the Dragon’s head, which lies near Vega. Its name comes from the Arabic for the head of the serpent, the same words behind Eltanin.
What you see in the piece
Its colour in the piece is almost the Sun’s. The head of the Dragon breaks apart in depth as soon as you leave Earth: Rastaban lies much farther than Eltanin and Grumium.
Questions
How far away is Rastaban?
Rastaban is 380 light-years (117 pc) from the Sun.
What does Rastaban mean?
It comes from the Arabic for the head of the serpent, for its place in the Dragon’s head.