Based upon parallax measurements collected during the Hipparcos mission, this star is located at a distance of about 92.1 light-years (28.2 parsecs) from the Sun.

[17] Consequently, the Chinese name for Eta Draconis itself is 紫微左垣三 (Zǐ Wēi Zuǒ Yuán sān, English: the Third Star of Left Wall of Purple Forbidden Enclosure),[18] representing 少宰 (Shàozǎi), meaning The Second Premier.

[19] Possibly, 少宰 (Shàozǎi) is westernized into Hea Tsae by R.H. Allen with meaning "the Lowest Steward" but it was for Theta Draconis.

It reached this stage in only 650[8] million years because higher mass stars such as this consume the supply of hydrogen more rapidly than the Sun.

[7][8] From its extended envelope, it is radiating around 65[8] times the luminosity of the Sun at an effective temperature of 5,018 K,[7] giving it the yellow glow of a G-type star.