Yellow-white supergiant · Perseus

Mirfak

Also known as: α Persei (α Per), HIP 15863

mag 1.8510 light-years

About

Mirfak (α Persei) is a yellow-white supergiant of magnitude 1.8 in Perseus, about 510 light-years away.

Mirfak is in the constellation Perseus.
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 30° 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	Mirfak
Designation	α Persei (α Per)
Hipparcos number	HIP 15863
Type	Yellow-white supergiant
Spectral type	F5Ib
Colour	YellowB−V colour index 0.48
Magnitude	1.8The smaller the number, the brighter.
Distance	510 light-yearsThe light you see left it around 1520.
Proper motion	0.035″ per year across the sky
Constellation	Perseus
Right ascension (J2000)	03h 24m 19.4s
Declination (J2000)	+49° 51′ 40″