In the sky, it forms an isosceles triangle with Castor and Pollux, and is located less than a degree from the 5th magnitude stars 64 and 65 Geminorum.
[11] Consequently, ι Geminorum itself is known as 五諸侯三 (Wu Zhū Hóu sān, English: the Third Star of Five Feudal Kings.).
[12] It has been called by the proper name Propus, meaning "forefoot" in Latin, but this name is now assigned to η Geminorum.
[13] Based upon an annual parallax shift of 27.10 mass,[1] Iota Geminorum lies some 120.4 light years from the Sun.
It shines with 54 times the Sun's luminosity from its outer atmosphere at an effective temperature of 5,072 K.[7]