ε Cephei (epsilon Cephei)

ε Cephei is a variable and double hypergiant star in the constellation of Cepheus.

ε Cephei visual magnitude is 4.19. Because of its moderate brightness, ε Cephei 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 ε Cephei:

Color of ε Cephei ⬤

Magnitude of ε Cephei 4.19

Class Hypergiant

VISIBILITY RIGHT NOW ε Cephei (epsilon Cephei) is above the horizon from Greenwich, United Kingdom [change]. Altitude: 19°.

Celestial coordinates and finder chart of ε Cephei

ε Cephei is situated north of the celestial equator, as such, it is more easily visible from the northern hemisphere. Celestial coordinates for the J2000 equinox as well as galactic coordinates of ε Cephei are provided in the following table:

Right Ascension J2000 22h 15m 02s

Declination J2000 +57° 02’ 36”

Galactic Longitude 102.86°

Galactic Latitude 0.4°

Constellation Cepheus

The simplified sky map below shows the position of ε Cephei in the sky:

Finder chart ε Cephei (epsilon Cephei) star

Simplified finder chart for ε Cephei (epsilon Cephei).

Visibility of ε Cephei from your location

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

ε Cephei (epsilon Cephei) is circumpolar and transits at 10:16 UTC (altitude: 84.4°)

Digitized Sky Survey image of ε Cephei

The image below is a photograph of ε Cephei 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 ε Cephei is 0.447 arcsec per year in Right Ascension and 0.048 arcsec per year in Declination and the associated displacement for the next 1000 years is represented with the red arrow.

DSS2 image of ε Cephei. The red arrow shows the motion of ε Cephei during the next 1000 years (7.45 arcmin in Right Ascension and 0.80 arcmin in declination);

Distance of ε Cephei from the Sun and relative movement

ε Cephei is distant 83.89 light years from the Sun and it is moving towards the Sun at the speed of 1 kilometers per second.

Distance (parsec) 25.73 pc

Distance (light year) 83.89 ly

Heliocentric radial velocity -1 km/s

Proper Motion RA 0.447 arcsec/year

Proper Motion Dec 0.048 arcsec/year

Spectral properties of ε Cephei

ε Cephei belongs to spectral class F0 and has a luminosity class of IV corresponding to a hypergiant star.

Absolute magnitude 2.14

Spectral Type F0IV

Color Index (B-V) 0.28

Temperature of ε Cephei 7591K

The red dot in the diagram below shows where ε Cephei is situated in the Hertzsprung–Russell diagram.

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

ε Cephei star system properties

ε Cephei is a visual double star which can be observed with the help of small or medium telescopes. The table below shows key information about the ε Cephei double sysyem:

Main star magnitude 4.19

Secondary star magnitude 9.49

Magnitude difference 5.3

Separation 127.8 arcsec

Alternative designations of ε Cephei

Bayer designation ε Cephei
(epsilon Cephei)

Flamsteed designation 23 Cephei

Henry Draper Catalogue HD211336

SAO Catalogue SAO34227

Hipparcos Catalogue HIP109857

Durchmusterung Catalogue BD+56 2741

Gliese Catalogue NN 4266

General Catalogue of Variable Stars Eps Cep

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Other stars in Cepheus