Alpha Vulpeculae is a red giant, the brightest star in this faint constellation with a visual magnitude of 4.4. It is also the only Bayer star in the constellation (that is, having with a Greek label).

Alpha Vulpeculae is easily found with the naked eye, due south of Albireo (beta Cygni): binoculars.

To the south, in the same view as alpha, is a curious asterism known as The Coathanger, a group of stars which in fact look just like an upside-down coathanger: binoculars.