Beta Ceti

β Ceti / Diphda
Location of β Ceti (circled)
Observation data
Epoch J2000      Equinox J2000
Constellation Cetus
Right ascension 00h 43m 35.37090s[1]
Declination −17° 59′ 11.7827″[1]
Apparent magnitude (V) 2.02[2]
Characteristics
Evolutionary stage Red clump (helium-burning)[3]
Spectral type K0 III[4]
U−B color index +0.88[2]
B−V color index +1.01[2]
Variable type Suspected[5]
Astrometry
Radial velocity (Rv)+12.9[6] km/s
Proper motion (μ) RA: +232.55 mas/yr[1]
Dec.: +31.99 mas/yr[1]
Parallax (π)33.86 ± 0.16 mas[1]
Distance96.3 ± 0.5 ly
(29.5 ± 0.1 pc)
Absolute magnitude (MV)−0.13[7]
Details
Mass3.5[8] M☉
Radius17.52±0.47[9] R☉
Luminosity149.7±3.4[9] L☉
Surface gravity (log g)2.43±0.07[9] cgs
Temperature4,792±35[10] K
Metallicity [Fe/H]−0.09[11] dex
Rotational velocity (v sin i)18[12] km/s
Age460±130[9] Myr
Other designations
Diphda, Deneb Kaitos, Difda al Thani, Rana Secunda, 16 Cet, BD–18°115, GCTP 134.00, Gj 31, HD 4128, HIP 3419, HR 188, SAO 147420[13]
Database references
SIMBADdata
ARICNSdata

Beta Ceti (β Ceti, abbreviated Beta Cet, β Cet), officially named Diphda /ˈdɪfdə/,[14] is the brightest star in the constellation of Cetus. Although designated 'beta', it is actually brighter than the 'alpha' star in the constellation, Menkar, by half a magnitude. This orange giant is easy to identify due to its location in an otherwise dark section of the celestial sphere. Based on parallax measurements, it lies at an estimated distance of 96.3 light-years (29.5 parsecs) from the Sun.[1]

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