[3] It is located at a distance of approximately 180 light years from the Sun based on parallax,[1] but is drifting closer with a radial velocity of −9 km/s.

[6] The duplicity of this star was discovered by English astronomer William Herschel in 1796, and their changing positions have been tracked from 1823 onward.

[10] Together with the distant companion HIP 71759, Zeta Boötis make a triple star system.

This distant star has an estimated orbital period of three million years, being at an observed distance of 41,300 au (6,180×10^9 km; 0.653 ly) from the inner pair.

[8] In 1976, T. W. Edwards found a stellar classification of A2III for both components, suggesting they may be evolved A-type giant stars.