λ Cephei (lambda Cephei)

λ Cephei is a variable supergiant star in the constellation of Cepheus.

λ Cephei visual magnitude is 5.04. Because of its reltive faintness, λ Cephei should be visible only from locations with dark skyes, while it is not visible at all from skyes affected by light pollution.

The table below summarizes the key facts about λ Cephei:

Color of λ Cephei ⬤

Magnitude of λ Cephei 5.04

Class Supergiant

VISIBILITY RIGHT NOW λ Cephei (lambda Cephei) is above the horizon from Greenwich, United Kingdom [change]. Altitude: 41°.

Celestial coordinates and finder chart of λ Cephei

λ 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 λ Cephei are provided in the following table:

Right Ascension J2000 22h 11m 30s

Declination J2000 +59° 24’ 51”

Galactic Longitude 103.83°

Galactic Latitude 2.61°

Constellation Cepheus

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

Finder chart λ Cephei (lambda Cephei) star

Simplified finder chart for λ Cephei (lambda Cephei).

Visibility of λ Cephei from your location

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

λ Cephei (lambda Cephei) is circumpolar and transits at 10:20 UTC (altitude: 82.1°)

Digitized Sky Survey image of λ Cephei

The image below is a photograph of λ 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 λ Cephei is 0.003 arcsec per year in Right Ascension and -0.011 arcsec per year in Declination and the associated displacement for the next 10000 years is represented with the red arrow.

DSS2 image of λ Cephei. The red arrow shows the motion of λ Cephei during the next 10000 years (0.50 arcmin in Right Ascension and -1.83 arcmin in declination);

Distance of λ Cephei from the Sun and relative movement

λ Cephei is distant 1,646.46 light years from the Sun and it is moving towards the Sun at the speed of 74 kilometers per second.

Distance (parsec) 505.05 pc

Distance (light year) 1,646.46 ly

Heliocentric radial velocity -74 km/s

Proper Motion RA 0.003 arcsec/year

Proper Motion Dec -0.011 arcsec/year

Spectral properties of λ Cephei

λ Cephei belongs to spectral class O6 and has a luminosity class of I corresponding to a supergiant star.

Absolute magnitude -3.48

Spectral Type O6I

Color Index (B-V) 0.25

Temperature of λ Cephei 7795K

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

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

Alternative designations of λ Cephei

Bayer designation λ Cephei
(lambda Cephei)

Flamsteed designation 22 Cephei

Henry Draper Catalogue HD210839

SAO Catalogue SAO34149

Hipparcos Catalogue HIP109556

Durchmusterung Catalogue BD+58 2402

General Catalogue of Variable Stars 14069

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Other stars in Cepheus