It has an apparent visual magnitude of 2.712,[2] making it readily visible to the naked eye at night.

[6] Nevertheless, it has reached a stage of its evolution where it has consumed the hydrogen at its core and expanded into what is termed a bright giant star, with a stellar classification of K3 II.

After it has finished generating energy through nuclear fusion, Gamma Aquilae will become a white dwarf.

[17] Consequently, the Chinese name for Gamma Aquilae itself is 河鼓三 (Hé Gŭ sān, English: the Third Star of River Drum).

The Koori people of Victoria knew Beta and Gamma Aquilae as the black swan wives of Bunjil (Altair), the wedge-tailed eagle.