Based on parallax measurements obtained during the Hipparcos mission, it is approximately 37 light-years (11 parsecs) distant from the Sun.

[18] Consequently, the Chinese name for Eta Boötis itself is 右攝提一 (Yòu Niè Dī yī, English: "the First Star of the Right Conductor").

[19] Eta Boötis is a suspected spectroscopic binary with a reported period of 494 days, but the companion was not confirmed through speckle interferometry.

[6] Eta Boötis presents as a subgiant that has begun the process of evolving from a main sequence star into a red giant.

[2] In fact the ratio of iron to hydrogen is considered close to the upper limit for dwarf stars in the galactic disk.