Pale orange star · Cetus

Mira

Also known as: ο Ceti (ο Cet), HIP 10826

mag 6.5300 light-years

About

Mira (ο Ceti) is a pale orange star of magnitude 6.5 in Cetus, about 300 light-years away.

Mira is in the constellation Cetus.
Best evenings: around mid-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 south of 77° 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.

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	Mira
Designation	ο Ceti (ο Cet)
Hipparcos number	HIP 10826
Type	Pale orange star
Spectral type	M5e-M9e
Colour	Pale orangeB−V colour index 0.97
Magnitude	6.5The smaller the number, the brighter.
Distance	300 light-yearsThe light you see left it around 1730.
Proper motion	0.24″ per year across the sky
Constellation	Cetus
Right ascension (J2000)	02h 19m 20.8s
Declination (J2000)	−02° 58′ 39″