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In Evidence
Other stars in Perseus
- Mirfak
- Algol
- ζ Persei
- ε Persei
- γ Persei
- δ Persei
- ρ Persei
- Miram
- ν Persei
- Misam
- Atik
- τ Persei
- 48 Persei
- Menkib
- ι Persei
- φ Persei
- θ Persei
- μ Persei
- 16 Persei
- ψ Persei
- 58 Persei
- λ Persei
- σ Persei
- 17 Persei
- HR1324
- ω Persei
- 34 Persei
- π Persei
- 52 Persei
- HR918
- HR991
- 53 Persei
- HR1533
- 12 Persei
- 24 Persei
- 54 Persei
- 32 Persei
- 40 Persei
- HR1034
- HR969
- 31 Persei
- 4 Persei
- 21 Persei
- 42 Persei
- 29 Persei
- 9 Persei
- HR1390
- HR890
- 43 Persei
- HR1011
- 59 Persei
- 36 Persei
- 20 Persei
- HR1207
- 14 Persei
- HR1330
- HR1063
- HR885
- 30 Persei
- HR1215
- 50 Persei
- 1 Persei
- HR1333
- HR1113
- HR1037
- HR1133
- HR1041
- HR1019
- HR1176
- HR1141
- HR618
- HR1482
- 3 Persei
- HR1286
- 55 Persei
- 8 Persei
- HR1198
- 56 Persei
- HR1191
- 11 Persei
- HR964
- 2 Persei
- HR1078
- HR1051
- HR526
- HR787
- HR1493
- HR842
- HR886
- HR529
- HR1074
- HR956
- HR1337
- HR1001
- HR986
- HR1514
- 7 Persei
- HR1489
- HR1170
- HR865
- HR876
- HR923
- HR1127
- HR978
- HR966
- HR1500
- HR1029
- 49 Persei
- 57 Persei
- HR1209
- HR1130
- HR920
- HR894
- HR1160
- HR950
- HR1344
- HR973
- HR1419
- HR864
- HR1328
- HR1371
- HR1047
- HR819
- HR1164
- HR1197
- HR976
- HR825
- 10 Persei
- HR849
- HR538
- HR1424
- HR690
- HR1056
- HR820
- HR1226
- HR975
- HR621
- HR930
- HR949
- HR846
- 5 Persei
- HR1229
- HR470
- HR1059
- HR933
- HR1072
- HR1234
- HR1097
- HR641
- HR831
- HR1301
- HR540
- HR979
- HR654
- HR792
- HR1020
- HR1026
- HR716
- HR1223
- HR1163
- HR891
Mirfak - α Persei (alpha Persei)
Mirfak, also designated as α Persei (alpha Persei), is a variable and double supergiant star in the constellation of Perseus.
Mirfak visual magnitude is 1.79, making it the 34th brightest star in the sky. Thanks to its high brightness, Mirfak 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 Mirfak:
Celestial coordinates and finder chart of Mirfak
Mirfak 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 Mirfak are provided in the following table:
The simplified sky map below shows the position of Mirfak in the sky:
Visibility of Mirfak from your location
Location: Greenwich, United Kingdom [change]
Latitude: 51° 28’ 47” N
Longitude: 0° 00’ 00” E
Timezone: Europe/London
Mirfak - α Persei (alpha Persei) is circumpolar and transits at 15:32 UTC (altitude: 88.4°)
Digitized Sky Survey image of Mirfak
The image below is a photograph of Mirfak 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 Mirfak is 0.024 arcsec per year in Right Ascension and -0.025 arcsec per year in Declination and the associated displacement for the next 10000 years is represented with the red arrow.
Distance of Mirfak from the Sun and relative movement
Mirfak is distant 591.65 light years from the Sun and it is moving towards the Sun at the speed of 2 kilometers per second.
Spectral properties of Mirfak
Mirfak belongs to spectral class F5 and has a luminosity class of I corresponding to a supergiant star.
The red dot in the diagram below shows where Mirfak is situated in the Hertzsprung–Russell diagram.
Mirfak star system properties
Mirfak 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 Mirfak double sysyem: