Alpha Persei

α Persei
Location of α Persei (circled)
Observation data
Epoch J2000      Equinox J2000
Constellation Perseus
Right ascension 03h 24m 19.37009s[1]
Declination +49° 51′ 40.2455″[1]
Apparent magnitude (V) 1.82[2]
Characteristics
Spectral type F5 Ib[2][3]
U−B color index +0.38[4]
B−V color index +0.483[4]
Astrometry
Radial velocity (Rv)−2.04[5] km/s
Proper motion (μ) RA: +23.75[1] mas/yr
Dec.: −26.23[1] mas/yr
Parallax (π)6.44 ± 0.17 mas[1]
Distance510 ± 10 ly
(155 ± 4 pc)
Absolute magnitude (MV)−5.1[3]
Details
Mass7.3±0.3[2] M☉
Radius53.1±1.4[6] R☉
Luminosity3,786±186[7] L☉
Surface gravity (log g)1.9±0.04[2] cgs
Temperature6,350±100[2] K
Metallicity [Fe/H]–0.05[8] dex
Rotational velocity (v sin i)<18[9] km/s
Age41[2] Myr
Other designations
Mirfak, Mirphak, Marfak, Algeneb, Algenib, α Persei, α Per, Alpha Per, 33 Persei, BD+49 917, CCDM J03243+4951A, FK5 120, GC 4041, HD 20902, HIP 15863, HR 1017, IDS 03171+4930 A, PPM 46127, SAO 38787, WDS J03243+4952A
Database references
SIMBADdata

Alpha Persei (Latinized from α Persei, abbreviated Alpha Per, α Per), formally named Mirfak[10] (pronounced /ˈmɜːrfæk/ or /ˈmɪərfæk/),[11] is the brightest star in the northern constellation of Perseus, outshining the constellation's best-known star, Algol (β Persei). Alpha Persei has an apparent visual magnitude of 1.8,[5] and is a circumpolar star when viewed from mid-northern latitudes.

Alpha Persei lies in the midst of a cluster of stars named as the eponymous Alpha Persei Cluster, or Melotte 20, which is easily visible in binoculars and includes many of the fainter stars in the constellation.[12] Determined distance using the trigonometric parallax, places the star 510 light-years (160 parsecs) from the Sun.[1]

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  10. ^ "IAU Catalog of Star Names". Retrieved 28 July 2016.
  11. ^ "Mirfak". Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary. Merriam-Webster.
  12. ^ Cite error: The named reference kaler was invoked but never defined (see the help page).