Zeta Boötis

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**ζ Boötis**
Observation data Epoch J2000.0
Constellation	Boötes
Right ascension	14^h 41^m 08.9^s
Declination	+13° 43' 42"
Apparent magnitude (V)	+3.78
Distance	181 ± 12 ly (55 ± 4 pc)
Spectral type	A2III
Other designations
30 Boötis, HR 5478+HR 5477, HD 129247+HD 129246, BD+14°2770, HIP 71795, SAO 101145, GC 19777, ADS 9343, CCDM 14411+1344

$Zeta Bootis imaged with the Nordic Optical Telescope on 13 May 2000 using the lucky imaging method. The Airy disc around each of the stars is caused by diffraction from the 2.56m telescope aperture.$

Zeta Bootis imaged with the Nordic Optical Telescope on 13 May 2000 using the lucky imaging method. The Airy disc around each of the stars is caused by diffraction from the 2.56m telescope aperture.

Zeta Boötis (ζ Boo / ζ Boötis) is a bright speckle binary in the constellation of Boötes. It also has the Flamsteed designation 30 Boötis. It is approximately 181 light years from Earth and has a combined apparent magnitude of +3.78.

The angular separation of the components is currently about 0.8" (this varies slightly with orbital period). As the separation is close to the seeing limit of most astronomical observations, ζ Boötis is often used to test the performance of new high resolution imaging techniques.

Both components, are white A-type giants with apparent magnitudes of +4.43 and +4.83.