Gamma Capricorni (γ Cap, γ Capricorni) is a giant star

Giant star

A giant star is a star with substantially larger radius and luminosity than a main sequence star of the same surface temperature. Typically, giant stars have radii between 10 and 100 solar radii and luminosities between 10 and 1,000 times that of the Sun. Stars still more luminous than giants are...

 in the constellation

Constellation

In modern astronomy, a constellation is an internationally defined area of the celestial sphere. These areas are grouped around asterisms, patterns formed by prominent stars within apparent proximity to one another on Earth's night sky....

 Capricornus

Capricornus

Capricornus is one of the constellations of the zodiac; it is often called Capricorn, especially when referring to the corresponding astrological sign. Its name is Latin for "horned male goat" or "goat horn", and it is commonly represented in the form of a sea-goat: a mythical creature that is half...

. It has the traditional name Nashira, which comes from the Arabic

Arabic language

Arabic is a name applied to the descendants of the Classical Arabic language of the 6th century AD, used most prominently in the Quran, the Islamic Holy Book...

 سعد ناشرة - sa'd nashirah for "the lucky one" or "bearer of good news".

In Chinese

Chinese language

The Chinese language is a language or language family consisting of varieties which are mutually intelligible to varying degrees. Originally the indigenous languages spoken by the Han Chinese in China, it forms one of the branches of Sino-Tibetan family of languages...

, , meaning Line of Ramparts

Encampment (Chinese constellation)

The Encampment mansion is one of the Twenty-eight mansions of the Chinese constellations. It is one of the northern mansions of the Black Tortoise.-Asterisms:...

, refers to an asterism consisting of γ Capricorni, κ Capricorni

Kappa Capricorni

Kappa Capricorni is a star in the constellation Capricornus. κ Capricorni is a yellow G-type giant with an apparent magnitude of +4.72 and is approximately 291 light years from Earth....

, ε Capricorni

Epsilon Capricorni

Epsilon Capricorni is a triple star system in the constellation Capricornus. It also has the traditional star name Castra or Kastra, meaning "fort" or "military camp" in Latin...

, δ Capricorni

Delta Capricorni

Delta Capricorni , also traditionally named Deneb Algedi and Scheddi, is a quaternary star system approximately 39 light-years away in the constellation of Capricornus . The primary star in the system is a white giant star and the combined light of its four members makes it the brightest "single"...

, ι Aquarii

Iota Aquarii

Iota Aquarii is a star in the constellation Aquarius.Iota Aquarii is a blue-white B-type subgiant with an apparent magnitude of +4.29. It is approximately 173 light years from Earth.-References:*...

, σ Aquarii

Sigma Aquarii

Sigma Aquarii is a double star in the constellation Aquarius. It is approximately 265 light years from Earth.Sigma Aquarii is an astrometric binary. The visible component is a white A-type subgiant with an apparent magnitude of +4.82. The orbital period of the binary is 654 days.-References:*...

, λ Aquarii

Lambda Aquarii

Lambda Aquarii is a star in the constellation Aquarius. It has the obscure traditional names Hydor and Ekkhysis, from the ancient Greek ὕδωρ "water" and ἔκχυσις "outpouring"....

, φ Aquarii

Phi Aquarii

Phi Aquarii is a star in the constellation Aquarius.Phi Aquarii is a M-type red giant with an apparent magnitude of +4.22. It is approximately 222 light years from Earth.-References:*...

, 27 Piscium, 29 Piscium, 33 Piscium and 30 Piscium. Consequently, γ Capricorni itself is known as

Because it is near the ecliptic

Ecliptic

The ecliptic is the plane of the earth's orbit around the sun. In more accurate terms, it is the intersection of the celestial sphere with the ecliptic plane, which is the geometric plane containing the mean orbit of the Earth around the Sun...

, γ Capricorni can be occulted

Occultation

An occultation is an event that occurs when one object is hidden by another object that passes between it and the observer. The word is used in astronomy . It can also refer to any situation wherein an object in the foreground blocks from view an object in the background...

 by the Moon

Moon

The Moon is Earth's only known natural satellite,There are a number of near-Earth asteroids including 3753 Cruithne that are co-orbital with Earth: their orbits bring them close to Earth for periods of time but then alter in the long term . These are quasi-satellites and not true moons. For more...

, and (rarely) by planet

Planet

A planet is a celestial body orbiting a star or stellar remnant that is massive enough to be rounded by its own gravity, is not massive enough to cause thermonuclear fusion, and has cleared its neighbouring region of planetesimals.The term planet is ancient, with ties to history, science,...

s.

γ Capricorni is a blue-white A-type (A7III)

Stellar classification

In astronomy, stellar classification is a classification of stars based on their spectral characteristics. The spectral class of a star is a designated class of a star describing the ionization of its chromosphere, what atomic excitations are most prominent in the light, giving an objective measure...

 giant star

Sequence

In mathematics, a sequence is an ordered list of objects . Like a set, it contains members , and the number of terms is called the length of the sequence. Unlike a set, order matters, and exactly the same elements can appear multiple times at different positions in the sequence...

 with a mean apparent magnitude

Apparent magnitude

The apparent magnitude of a celestial body is a measure of its brightness as seen by an observer on Earth, adjusted to the value it would have in the absence of the atmosphere...

 of +3.69. It is approximately 139 light years

Light Years

Light Years is the seventh studio album by Australian recording artist Kylie Minogue. It was released on 25 September 2000 by Parlophone and Mushroom Records. The album's style was indicative of her return to "mainstream pop dance tunes"....

 from Earth

Earth

Earth is the third planet from the Sun, and the densest and fifth-largest of the eight planets in the Solar System. It is also the largest of the Solar System's four terrestrial planets...

. It is classified as an Alpha2 Canum Venaticorum type variable star

Variable star

A star is classified as variable if its apparent magnitude as seen from Earth changes over time, whether the changes are due to variations in the star's actual luminosity, or to variations in the amount of the star's light that is blocked from reaching Earth...

and its brightness varies by 0.03 magnitudes.