Alpha Persei
Star in the constellation Perseus / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Dear Wikiwand AI, let's keep it short by simply answering these key questions:
Can you list the top facts and stats about Alpha Persei?
Summarize this article for a 10 year old
Alpha Persei (Latinized from α Persei, abbreviated Alpha Per, α Per), formally named Mirfak[9] (pronounced /ˈmɜːrfæk/ or /ˈmɪərfæk/),[10] 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.
Observation data Epoch J2000 Equinox J2000 | |
---|---|
Constellation | Perseus |
Right ascension | 03h 24m 19.37009s[1] |
Declination | +49° 51′ 40.2455″[1] |
Apparent magnitude (V) | 1.806[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] |
Distance | 510 ± 10 ly (155 ± 4 pc) |
Absolute magnitude (MV) | −5.1[3] |
Details | |
Mass | 8.5 ± 0.3[2] M☉ |
Radius | 68 ± 3[6] R☉ |
Surface gravity (log g) | 1.90 ± 0.04[2] cgs |
Temperature | 6,350 ± 100[2] K |
Metallicity [Fe/H] | −0.02[7] dex |
Rotational velocity (v sin i) | 20[8] km/s |
Age | 41[2] Myr |
Other designations | |
Database references | |
SIMBAD | data |
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.[11] Determined distance using the trigonometric parallax, places the star 510 light-years (160 parsecs) from the Sun.[1]