We use cookies to deliver essential features and to measure their performance. By using this site you accept our Privacy Policies.
A Complete Guide to the Solar System and the Night Sky
Donate now and help us to keep this site free and ad-free!
public Observing fromLocation: Greenwich, United Kingdom edit_location_alt
north SunriseRise: 7:52  
clear_day Transit: 11:51  
SunsetSet: 15:49 south
sunny DaytimeWhat's Visible Now?
All Constellations » Cassiopeia » 

κ Cassiopeiae (kappa Cassiopeiae)

Altitude: 27.3°   Azimuth: 16.0°   Direction: North-North-East

κ Cassiopeiae is a variable supergiant star in the constellation of Cassiopeia.

κ Cassiopeiae visual magnitude is 4.16. Because of its moderate brightness, κ Cassiopeiae 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 κ Cassiopeiae:

4.16
Supergiant

κ Cassiopeiae (kappa Cassiopeiae) is above the horizon from Greenwich, United Kingdom edit_location_alt.

Altitude: 27.3°
Azimuth: 16.0°
Direction: North-North-East

Celestial coordinates and finder chart of κ Cassiopeiae

κ 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 κ Cassiopeiae are provided in the following table:

00h 33m 00s
+62° 55’ 54”
120.84°
0.14°
Cassiopeia

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

Finder chart κ Cassiopeiae (kappa Cassiopeiae) star
Simplified finder chart for κ Cassiopeiae (kappa Cassiopeiae).

Visibility of κ Cassiopeiae from your location

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

κ Cassiopeiae (kappa Cassiopeiae) is circumpolar and transits at 19:15 UTC (altitude: 78.5°)

Digitized Sky Survey image of κ Cassiopeiae

The image below is a photograph of κ 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 κ Cassiopeiae is 0.003 arcsec per year in Right Ascension and -0.003 arcsec per year in Declination and the associated displacement for the next 100000 years is represented with the red arrow.

Image of κ Cassiopeiae (kappa Cassiopeiae) star
DSS2 image of κ Cassiopeiae. The red arrow shows the motion of κ Cassiopeiae during the next 100000 years (5.00 arcmin in Right Ascension and -5.00 arcmin in declination);

Distance of κ Cassiopeiae from the Sun and relative movement

κ Cassiopeiae is distant 4,126.58 light years from the Sun and it is moving towards the Sun at the speed of 2 kilometers per second.

1,265.82 pc
4,126.58 ly
-2 km/s
0.003 arcsec/year
-0.003 arcsec/year

Spectral properties of κ Cassiopeiae

κ Cassiopeiae belongs to spectral class B1 and has a luminosity class of I corresponding to a supergiant star.

-6.35
B1I
8658K

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

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

Alternative designations of κ Cassiopeiae

κ Cassiopeiae
(kappa Cassiopeiae)
15 Cassiopeiae
SAO11256
SAO11256