γ Cassiopeiae (gamma Cassiopeiae)

γ Cassiopeiae is a variable and multiple hypergiant star in the constellation of Cassiopeia.

γ Cassiopeiae visual magnitude is 2.47. Thanks to its high brightness, γ Cassiopeiae is clearly visible when observed from locations with dark skyes, and should be also quite easily visible from light polluted areas.

The table below summarizes the key facts about γ Cassiopeiae:

Color of γ Cassiopeiae ⬤

Magnitude of γ Cassiopeiae 2.47

Class Hypergiant

VISIBILITY RIGHT NOW γ Cassiopeiae (gamma Cassiopeiae) is above the horizon from Greenwich, United Kingdom [change]. Altitude: 27°.

Celestial coordinates and finder chart of γ Cassiopeiae

γ Cassiopeiae is situated close to the northern celestial pole and, as such, it is visible for most part of the year from the northern hemisphere. Celestial coordinates for the J2000 equinox as well as galactic coordinates of γ Cassiopeiae are provided in the following table:

Right Ascension J2000 00h 56m 42s

Declination J2000 +60° 43’ 00”

Galactic Longitude 123.58°

Galactic Latitude -2.15°

Constellation Cassiopeia

The simplified sky map below shows the position of γ Cassiopeiae in the sky:

Finder chart γ Cassiopeiae (gamma Cassiopeiae) star

Simplified finder chart for γ Cassiopeiae (gamma Cassiopeiae).

Visibility of γ Cassiopeiae from your location

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

γ Cassiopeiae (gamma Cassiopeiae) is circumpolar and transits at 13:05 UTC (altitude: 80.8°)

Digitized Sky Survey image of γ Cassiopeiae

The image below is a photograph of γ Cassiopeiae 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 γ Cassiopeiae is 0.026 arcsec per year in Right Ascension and -0.005 arcsec per year in Declination and the associated displacement for the next 10000 years is represented with the red arrow.

Image of γ Cassiopeiae (gamma Cassiopeiae) star

DSS2 image of γ Cassiopeiae. The red arrow shows the motion of γ Cassiopeiae during the next 10000 years (4.33 arcmin in Right Ascension and -0.83 arcmin in declination);

Distance of γ Cassiopeiae from the Sun and relative movement

γ Cassiopeiae is distant 612.78 light years from the Sun and it is moving towards the Sun at the speed of 7 kilometers per second.

Distance (parsec) 187.97 pc

Distance (light year) 612.78 ly

Heliocentric radial velocity -7 km/s

Proper Motion RA 0.026 arcsec/year

Proper Motion Dec -0.005 arcsec/year

Spectral properties of γ Cassiopeiae

γ Cassiopeiae belongs to spectral class B0 and has a luminosity class of IV corresponding to a hypergiant star.

Absolute magnitude -3.90

Spectral Type B0IV

Color Index (B-V) -0.15

Temperature of γ Cassiopeiae 12489K

The red dot in the diagram below shows where γ Cassiopeiae is situated in the Hertzsprung–Russell diagram.

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

γ Cassiopeiae star system properties

γ Cassiopeiae 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 γ Cassiopeiae double sysyem:

Main star magnitude 2.47

Secondary star magnitude 8.77

Magnitude difference 6.3

Separation 2.3 arcsec

Alternative designations of γ Cassiopeiae

Bayer designation γ Cassiopeiae
(gamma Cassiopeiae)

Flamsteed designation 27 Cassiopeiae

Henry Draper Catalogue HD5394

SAO Catalogue SAO11482

Hipparcos Catalogue HIP4427

Durchmusterung Catalogue BD+59 144

FK5 Catalogue 32

General Catalogue of Variable Stars Gam Cas

Aitken Double Star Catalogue ADS782

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Other stars in Cassiopeia