[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.
[12] A 1991 catalogue of photometry reported that Gamma Aquilae showed some variation in its brightness, but this has not been confirmed.
[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.