Orange giant · Cetus

Diphda

Also known as: β Ceti (β Cet), HIP 3419

mag 2.096 light-years

About

Diphda (β Ceti) is an orange giant of magnitude 2.0 in Cetus, about 96 light-years away.

Diphda is in the constellation Cetus.
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 south of 62° N.

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. It has a clear orange tint.
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	Diphda
Designation	β Ceti (β Cet)
Hipparcos number	HIP 3419
Type	Orange giant
Spectral type	K0III
Colour	Pale orangeB−V colour index 1.02
Magnitude	2.0The smaller the number, the brighter.
Distance	96 light-yearsThe light you see left it around 1930.
Proper motion	0.24″ per year across the sky
Constellation	Cetus
Right ascension (J2000)	00h 43m 35.4s
Declination (J2000)	−17° 59′ 12″