Menkar - α Ceti (alpha Ceti)

Menkar, also designated as α Ceti (alpha Ceti), is a variable giant star in the constellation of Cetus.

Menkar visual magnitude is 2.53, making it the 93th brightest star in the sky. Thanks to its high brightness, Menkar 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 Menkar:

Color of Menkar ⬤

Magnitude of Menkar 2.53

Class Giant

VISIBILITY RIGHT NOW Menkar - α Ceti (alpha Ceti) is below the horizon from Greenwich, United Kingdom [change].

Celestial coordinates and finder chart of Menkar

Menkar 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 Menkar are provided in the following table:

Right Ascension J2000 03h 02m 16s

Declination J2000 +04° 05’ 22”

Galactic Longitude 173.32°

Galactic Latitude -45.59°

Constellation Cetus

The simplified sky map below shows the position of Menkar in the sky:

Finder chart Menkar - α Ceti (alpha Ceti) star

Simplified finder chart for Menkar - α Ceti (alpha Ceti).

Visibility of Menkar from your location

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

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

Azimuth: 85.9° RISE 8:40

Max altitude: 42.6° TRANSIT 14:58

Azimuth: 274.1° SET 21:17

RIGHT NOW Menkar - α Ceti (alpha Ceti) is below the horizon from Greenwich, United Kingdom

Digitized Sky Survey image of Menkar

The image below is a photograph of Menkar 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 Menkar is -0.009 arcsec per year in Right Ascension and -0.078 arcsec per year in Declination and the associated displacement for the next 10000 years is represented with the red arrow.

Image of Menkar - α Ceti (alpha Ceti) star

DSS2 image of Menkar. The red arrow shows the motion of Menkar during the next 10000 years (-1.50 arcmin in Right Ascension and -13.00 arcmin in declination);

Distance of Menkar from the Sun and relative movement

Menkar is distant 219.97 light years from the Sun and it is moving towards the Sun at the speed of 26 kilometers per second.

Distance (parsec) 67.48 pc

Distance (light year) 219.97 ly

Heliocentric radial velocity -26 km/s

Proper Motion RA -0.009 arcsec/year

Proper Motion Dec -0.078 arcsec/year

Spectral properties of Menkar

Menkar belongs to spectral class M1 and has a luminosity class of III corresponding to a giant star.

Absolute magnitude -1.62

Spectral Type M1III

Color Index (B-V) 1.64

Temperature of Menkar 3594K

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

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

Alternative designations of Menkar

Proper Name Menkar

Bayer designation α Ceti
(alpha Ceti)

Flamsteed designation 92 Ceti

Henry Draper Catalogue HD18884

SAO Catalogue SAO110920

Hipparcos Catalogue HIP14135

Durchmusterung Catalogue BD+03 419

FK5 Catalogue 107

General Catalogue of Variable Stars Alp Cet

How to support us

In Evidence

Other stars in Cetus