Blue-white subgiant · Cassiopeia

Cih

Also known as: γ Cassiopeiae (γ Cas), HIP 4427

mag 2.2550 light-years

About

Cih (γ Cassiopeiae) is a blue-white subgiant of magnitude 2.2 in Cassiopeia, about 550 light-years away.

Cih is in the constellation Cassiopeia.
Best evenings: around mid-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 19° 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	Cih
Designation	γ Cassiopeiae (γ Cas)
Hipparcos number	HIP 4427
Type	Blue-white subgiant
Spectral type	B0IV:evar
Colour	WhiteB−V colour index −0.05
Magnitude	2.2The smaller the number, the brighter.
Distance	550 light-yearsThe light you see left it around 1480.
Proper motion	0.026″ per year across the sky
Constellation	Cassiopeia
Right ascension (J2000)	00h 56m 42.5s
Declination (J2000)	+60° 43′ 00″