It is dimly visible to the naked eye with an apparent visual magnitude of +4.89.

[2] Based upon an annual parallax shift of 12.77 mas,[1] the distance to this star is 255 ± 7 light-years (78 ± 2 parsecs).

This is an A-type main sequence star with a stellar classification of A1 V.[3] It has a high rate of rotation with a projected rotational velocity of 133 km/s.

[11] According to the catalogue of stars in the Technical Memorandum 33-507 - A Reduced Star Catalog Containing 537 Named Stars, Al Buṭain were the title for five stars : δ Ari as Botein, π Ari as Al Buṭain I, ρ3 Ari as Al Buṭain II, ε Ari as Al Buṭain III dan ζ Ari as Al Buṭain IV.

[13] Consequently, the Chinese name for ζ Arietis itself is 天陰二 (Lóu Su èr, English: the Second Star of Yin Force.