Due to its relatively close distance of 1,200 light-years (370 pc) and equatorial location, it is easy to observe and heavily studied.

[9] W Aquilae is an S-type star with a spectral type of S3,9e to S6,9e, a red giant similar to M-type stars, but in which the dominant spectrum oxides are formed by metals of the fifth period of the periodic table.

W Aquilae, a Mira variable, shows silicon monoxide maser emission.

Although that absolute magnitude would correspond to a K4 main sequence star, a spectrum was classified as F5 or F8.

[3] A 2014 study of W Aquilae and α Centauri with the ALMA array claimed to have accidentally detected a previously-unknown Solar System object.