White star · Cancer

Meleph

Also known as: ε Cancri (ε Cnc), HIP 42556

mag 6.3590 light-years

About

Meleph (ε Cancri) is a white star of magnitude 6.3 in Cancer, about 590 light-years away.

Meleph is in the constellation Cancer.
Best evenings: around mid-March 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 60° S.

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.

EyesAt the very limit of the naked eye; binoculars show it easily.
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	Meleph
Designation	ε Cancri (ε Cnc)
Hipparcos number	HIP 42556
Type	White star
Spectral type	Am
Colour	Yellowish whiteB−V colour index 0.17
Magnitude	6.3The smaller the number, the brighter.
Distance	590 light-yearsThe light you see left it around 1440.
Proper motion	0.036″ per year across the sky
Constellation	Cancer
Right ascension (J2000)	08h 40m 27.0s
Declination (J2000)	+19° 32′ 41″