Mu Ceti

μ Ceti
Location of μ Ceti (circled)
Observation data
Epoch J2000.0      Equinox J2000.0
Constellation Cetus
Right ascension 02h 44m 56.54098s[1]
Declination 10° 06′ 50.9089″[1]
Apparent magnitude (V) +4.27[2]
Characteristics
Spectral type A9IIIp[3]
Variable type suspected δ Sct[4]
Astrometry
Parallax (π)38.80 ± 0.32 mas[1]
Distance84.1 ± 0.7 ly
(25.8 ± 0.2 pc)
Absolute magnitude (MV)+2.17[5]
Details
Mass1.6[6] M☉
Radius1.7[6] R☉
Luminosity7.5[6] L☉
Temperature7,141[5] K
Rotational velocity (v sin i)45.1±2.3[5] km/s
Age3.3[6] Gyr
Other designations
87 Ceti, HD 17094, HIP 12828, HR 813, SAO 110723, BD+09° 359
Database references
SIMBADdata

Mu Ceti (μ Ceti) is a star in the constellation Cetus. The combined apparent magnitude of the system is +4.27, and it is located 84 light-years from the Sun.

In Chinese, 天囷 (Tiān Qūn), meaning Circular Celestial Granary, refers to an asterism consisting of α Ceti, κ1 Ceti, λ Ceti, μ Ceti, ξ1 Ceti, ξ2 Ceti, ν Ceti, γ Ceti, δ Ceti, 75 Ceti, 70 Ceti, 63 Ceti and 66 Ceti. Consequently, the Chinese name for Mu Ceti itself is "the Fourth Star of Circular Celestial Granary".[7]

A light curve for Mu Ceti plotted from TESS data[8]

Mu Ceti is an A9 giant star. It has been suspected to be a δ Scuti variable,[4] but most studies find it to be of constant brightness.[9][10]

Three companions were all discovered during occultations of Mu Ceti by the Moon. An orbit was derived for the brightest with a period of 1,202 days.[6] Later studies have failed to find any evidence of these companions.[11]

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  7. ^ (in Chinese) AEEA (Activities of Exhibition and Education in Astronomy) 天文教育資訊網 2006 年 7 月 11 日
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