Orange supergiant · Perseus

Miram

Also known as: η Persei (η Per), HIP 13268

mag 3.8880 light-years

About

Miram (η Persei) is an orange supergiant of magnitude 3.8 in Perseus, about 880 light-years away.

Miram is in the constellation Perseus.
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 north of 24° 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.

EyesVisible from the suburbs on a clear night, but lost in bright city skies.
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	Miram
Designation	η Persei (η Per)
Hipparcos number	HIP 13268
Type	Orange supergiant
Spectral type	K3Ib comp SB
Colour	Orange-redB−V colour index 1.69
Magnitude	3.8The smaller the number, the brighter.
Distance	880 light-yearsThe light you see left it around 1150.
Proper motion	0.022″ per year across the sky
Constellation	Perseus
Right ascension (J2000)	02h 50m 41.8s
Declination (J2000)	+55° 53′ 44″