Red giant · Cetus

Menkar

Also known as: α Ceti (α Cet), HIP 14135

mag 2.5250 light-years

About

Menkar (α Ceti) is a red giant of magnitude 2.5 in Cetus, about 250 light-years away.

Menkar is in the constellation Cetus.
Best evenings: around late December 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 76° 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.

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	Menkar
Designation	α Ceti (α Cet)
Hipparcos number	HIP 14135
Type	Red giant
Spectral type	M2III
Colour	Orange-redB−V colour index 1.63
Magnitude	2.5The smaller the number, the brighter.
Distance	250 light-yearsThe light you see left it around 1780.
Proper motion	0.080″ per year across the sky
Constellation	Cetus
Right ascension (J2000)	03h 02m 16.8s
Declination (J2000)	+04° 05′ 23″