Yellow-white giant · Cassiopeia

Caph

Also known as: β Cassiopeiae (β Cas), HIP 746

mag 2.355 light-years

About

Caph (β Cassiopeiae) is a yellow-white giant of magnitude 2.3 in Cassiopeia, about 55 light-years away.

Caph is in the constellation Cassiopeia.
Best evenings: around early November it is highest at about 9 pm (10 pm in summer time); a month earlier, two hours later.
Where on Earth: it is seen well, at least 10° up, from north of 21° S.
Star patterns: Cassiopeia’s W.

When it rises and sets tonight, how high it climbs and how much the Moon gets in the way are worked out in your browser for your place.

EyesEasy, even from town.
Binoculars (10×50)A sharp point; binoculars bring out its colour and the fainter stars around it.
Telescope (6–8 inch)Still a point of light at any magnification — stars are too far away to show a disc. Low in the sky, bright stars twinkle and flash colours.

Stars look the same in any instrument: brighter and sharper, but never bigger.

Proper name	Caph
Designation	β Cassiopeiae (β Cas)
Hipparcos number	HIP 746
Type	Yellow-white giant
Spectral type	F2III-IV
Colour	Yellowish whiteB−V colour index 0.38
Magnitude	2.3The smaller the number, the brighter.
Distance	55 light-yearsThe light you see left it around 1971.
Proper motion	0.55″ per year across the sky
Constellation	Cassiopeia
Right ascension (J2000)	00h 09m 10.4s
Declination (J2000)	+59° 08′ 59″