Appearing as a single point of light to the naked eye, it is resolvable into a number of components through a telescope.

Based on parallax measurements obtained during the Hipparcos mission, it is approximately 360 light-years (110 parsecs) distant from the Sun.

[13] Alpha Herculis bore the traditional name Rasalgethi or Ras Algethi (Arabic: رأس الجاثي ra‘is al-jāthī 'Head of the Kneeler').

The star is seen as marking itself, and stands alone in the center of the Emperor's Seat asterism, Heavenly Market enclosure (see: Chinese constellations).

[17] 帝座 (Dìzuò) was westernized into Ti Tso by R.H. Allen, with the same meaning [18] Alpha Herculis A and B are more than 500 AU apart, with an estimated orbital period of approximately 3600 years.

[citation needed] A presents as a relatively massive red bright giant, but radial velocity measurements suggest a companion with a period of the order of a decade.

[3] Like most type M stars near the end of their lives, Alpha Herculis is experiencing a high degree of stellar mass loss creating a sparse, gaseous envelope that extends at least 930 AU.