Traditionally called Unukalhai, is a red giant of spectral type K2III located approximately 23 parsecs distant with a visual magnitude of 2.630 ± 0.009,[7] meaning it can easily be seen with the naked eye even in areas with substantial light pollution. A faint companion is in orbit around the red giant star,[8] although it is not visible to the naked eye. Situated near Alpha is Lambda Serpentis, a magnitude 4.42 ± 0.05 star rather similar to the Sun[9] positioned only 12 parsecs away.[10] Another solar analog in Serpens is the primary of Psi Serpentis, a binary star[11] located slightly further away at approximately 14 parsecs.[12]