alTayr

alTayr, also known as Altair, is the brightest star in the constellation Aquila and the twelfth brightest star in the night sky. Located approximately 16.7 light years from Earth, it is the easternmost vertex of the Summer Triangle, along with Vega and Deneb. The name alTayr comes from Arabic, meaning "the flying eagle," reflecting its position in the constellation Aquila, which represents an eagle in various mythologies.

As an A-type main sequence star, alTayr has a surface temperature of about 7,700 K and appears white when viewed from Earth. It rotates rapidly, completing a full rotation in approximately 9 hours, which causes it to bulge at the equator. This rapid rotation gives alTayr an oblate shape that is about 20% wider than it is tall.

In Chinese astronomy, alTayr is part of the constellation of the Ox, while in Hindu tradition it is associated with the star of the eagle. The star has been significant in various navigation systems throughout history due to its brightness and distinct position in the summer sky.