---
name: Barnard's Star
constellation: Oph
created_by: 8mag
created_date: 2022-01-21 17:00:00
updated_by: skybber
updated_date: 2022-02-10 16:58:40.395982
---
This interesting red star, visible only through binoculars, moves the fastest of all against the background of more distant stars - it moves 10.31" across the sky per year, or the diameter of the Moon in 180 years. It is therefore sometimes referred to as Barnard's Arrow. It has the largest proper motion of any known star, discovered by E. Barnard in 1916, and is the second closest star to our Sun after the α Centauri system, separated from it by only 5.9ly, which is also the main reason for its rapid movement across the sky. Barnard's Arrow is still getting closer to us, in the year 9700, when it will be in the head of Draco, it will be only 3.8 light years away! Recording its movements could be a very interesting activity. By plotting its position in the star field at high magnification at least once a year, we can see for ourselves.