η Ceti (eta Ceti)

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

η Ceti visual magnitude is 3.45. Because of its moderate brightness, η 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 η Ceti:

Color of η Ceti ⬤

Magnitude of η Ceti 3.45

Class Giant

VISIBILITY RIGHT NOW η Ceti (eta Ceti) is below the horizon from Greenwich, United Kingdom [change].

Celestial coordinates and finder chart of η Ceti

η 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 η Ceti are provided in the following table:

Right Ascension J2000 01h 08m 35s

Declination J2000 -10° 10’ 55”

Galactic Longitude 137.15°

Galactic Latitude -72.58°

Constellation Cetus

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

Simplified finder chart for η Ceti (eta Ceti).

Visibility of η Ceti from your location

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

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

Azimuth: 100.2° RISE 8:03

Max altitude: 28.3° TRANSIT 13:09

Azimuth: 259.8° SET 18:15

RIGHT NOW η Ceti (eta Ceti) is below the horizon from Greenwich, United Kingdom

Digitized Sky Survey image of η Ceti

The image below is a photograph of η 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 η Ceti is 0.218 arcsec per year in Right Ascension and -0.138 arcsec per year in Declination and the associated displacement for the next 1000 years is represented with the red arrow.

DSS2 image of η Ceti. The red arrow shows the motion of η Ceti during the next 1000 years (3.63 arcmin in Right Ascension and -2.30 arcmin in declination);

Distance of η Ceti from the Sun and relative movement

η Ceti is distant 117.56 light years from the Sun and it is moving far from the Sun at the speed of 12 kilometers per second.

Distance (parsec) 36.06 pc

Distance (light year) 117.56 ly

Heliocentric radial velocity 12 km/s

Proper Motion RA 0.218 arcsec/year

Proper Motion Dec -0.138 arcsec/year

Spectral properties of η Ceti

η Ceti belongs to spectral class K1 and has a luminosity class of III corresponding to a giant star.

Absolute magnitude 0.66

Spectral Type K1III

Color Index (B-V) 1.16

Temperature of η Ceti 4389K

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

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

η Ceti star system properties

η Ceti is a visual double star which can be observed only with the help of very large telescopes. The table below shows key information about the η Ceti double sysyem:

Main star magnitude 3.45

Secondary star magnitude 10.15

Magnitude difference 6.7

Separation 233.5 arcsec

Alternative designations of η Ceti

Bayer designation η Ceti
(eta Ceti)

Flamsteed designation 31 Ceti

Henry Draper Catalogue HD6805

SAO Catalogue SAO147632

Hipparcos Catalogue HIP5364

Durchmusterung Catalogue BD-10 240

Gliese Catalogue NN 3075

FK5 Catalogue 40

How to support us

In Evidence

Other stars in Cetus