χ Ceti (chi Ceti)

χ Ceti is a double giant star in the constellation of Cetus.

χ Ceti visual magnitude is 4.67. Because of its moderate brightness, χ Ceti should be easily visible from locations with dark skyes, while it can be barely visible, or not visible at all, from skyes affected by light pollution.

The table below summarizes the key facts about χ Ceti:

Color of χ Ceti ⬤

Magnitude of χ Ceti 4.67

Class Giant

VISIBILITY RIGHT NOW χ Ceti (chi Ceti) is above the horizon from Greenwich, United Kingdom [change]. Altitude: 27°.

Celestial coordinates and finder chart of χ Ceti

χ Ceti is situated close to the celestial equator, as such, it is at least partly visible from both hemispheres in certain times of the year. Celestial coordinates for the J2000 equinox as well as galactic coordinates of χ Ceti are provided in the following table:

Right Ascension J2000 01h 49m 35s

Declination J2000 -10° 41’ 11”

Galactic Longitude 165.48°

Galactic Latitude -68.61°

Constellation Cetus

The simplified sky map below shows the position of χ Ceti in the sky:

Simplified finder chart for χ Ceti (chi Ceti).

Visibility of χ Ceti from your location

Location: Greenwich, United Kingdom [change]
Latitude: 51° 28’ 47” N
Longitude: 0° 00’ 00” E
Timezone: Europe/London

Today's χ Ceti (chi Ceti) rise, transit and set times from Greenwich, United Kingdom [change] are the following (all times relative to the local timezone Europe/London):

Azimuth: 100.7° RISE 9:07

Max altitude: 27.8° TRANSIT 14:11

Azimuth: 259.3° SET 19:14

RIGHT NOW χ Ceti (chi Ceti) is above the horizon from Greenwich, United Kingdom

Digitized Sky Survey image of χ Ceti

The image below is a photograph of χ Ceti from the Digitized Sky Survey 2 (DSS2 - see the credits section) taken in the red channel. The area of sky represented in the image is 0.5x0.5 degrees (30x30 arcmins). The proper motion of χ Ceti is -0.146 arcsec per year in Right Ascension and -0.093 arcsec per year in Declination and the associated displacement for the next 1000 years is represented with the red arrow.

DSS2 image of χ Ceti. The red arrow shows the motion of χ Ceti during the next 1000 years (-2.43 arcmin in Right Ascension and -1.55 arcmin in declination);

Distance of χ Ceti from the Sun and relative movement

χ Ceti is distant 76.98 light years from the Sun and it is moving towards the Sun at the speed of 1 kilometers per second.

Distance (parsec) 23.61 pc

Distance (light year) 76.98 ly

Heliocentric radial velocity -1 km/s

Proper Motion RA -0.146 arcsec/year

Proper Motion Dec -0.093 arcsec/year

Spectral properties of χ Ceti

χ Ceti belongs to spectral class F3 and has a luminosity class of III corresponding to a giant star.

Absolute magnitude 2.80

Spectral Type F3III

Color Index (B-V) 0.33

Temperature of χ Ceti 7276K

The red dot in the diagram below shows where χ Ceti is situated in the Hertzsprung–Russell diagram.

H-R diagram showing the position of χ Ceti. Attribution: Richard Powell / CC BY-SA

χ Ceti star system properties

χ Ceti is a visual double star which can be observed with binoculars or small telescopes. The table below shows key information about the χ Ceti double sysyem:

Main star magnitude 4.67

Secondary star magnitude 6.77

Magnitude difference 2.1

Separation 184 arcsec

Alternative designations of χ Ceti

Bayer designation χ Ceti
(chi Ceti)

Flamsteed designation 53 Ceti

Henry Draper Catalogue HD11171

SAO Catalogue SAO148036

Hipparcos Catalogue HIP8497

Durchmusterung Catalogue BD-11 352

Gliese Catalogue Wo 9061 A

FK5 Catalogue 1051

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Other stars in Cetus