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A Complete Guide to the Solar System and the Night Sky
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public Observing fromLocation: Greenwich, United Kingdom edit_location_alt
SunriseRise: 6:04  
clear_day Transit: 12:06  
SunsetSet: 18:09
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All Constellations » Ursa Major » 

Mizar - ζ Ursae Majoris (zeta Ursae Majoris)

Altitude: 71.0°   Azimuth: 292.8°   Direction: West-North-West

Mizar, also designated as ζ Ursae Majoris (zeta Ursae Majoris), is a variable and multiple main-sequence star in the constellation of Ursa Major.

Mizar visual magnitude is 2.27, making it the 74th brightest star in the sky. Thanks to its high brightness, Mizar is clearly visible when observed from locations with dark skies, and should be also quite easily visible from light polluted areas.

The proper motion of Mizar is 0.122 arcsec per year in Right Ascension and -0.02 arcsec per year in Declination and the associated displacement for the next 1000 years is represented with the red arrow.

Image of Mizar - ζ Ursae Majoris (zeta Ursae Majoris) star
DSS2 image of Mizar. The red arrow shows the motion of Mizar during the next 1000 years (2.03 arcmin in Right Ascension and -0.33 arcmin in declination);

Key facts about Mizar

2.27
Main-sequence

Mizar - ζ Ursae Majoris (zeta Ursae Majoris) is above the horizon from Greenwich, United Kingdom edit_location_alt.

Altitude: 71.0°
Azimuth: 292.8°
Direction: West-North-West

Celestial coordinates and finder chart of Mizar

Mizar 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 Mizar are provided in the following table:

13h 23m 55s
+54° 55’ 31”
113.11°
61.58°
Ursa Major

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

Finder chart Mizar - ζ Ursae Majoris (zeta Ursae Majoris) star
Simplified finder chart for Mizar - ζ Ursae Majoris (zeta Ursae Majoris).

Visibility of Mizar from your location

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

Mizar - ζ Ursae Majoris (zeta Ursae Majoris) is circumpolar and transits at 01:35 UTC (altitude: 86.6°)

Distance of Mizar from the Sun and relative movement

Mizar is distant 78.12 light years from the Sun and it is moving towards the Sun at the speed of 6 kilometers per second.

23.96 pc
78.12 ly
-6 km/s
0.122 arcsec/year
-0.02 arcsec/year

Spectral properties of Mizar

Mizar belongs to spectral class A1 and has a luminosity class of V corresponding to a main-sequence star. Mizar is also a SrSi chemically peculiar star.

0.37
A1V
9882K

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

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

Mizar star system properties

Mizar 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 Mizar double sysyem:

2.27
3.97
1.7
0 arcsec

Alternative designations of Mizar

Mizar
ζ Ursae Majoris
(zeta Ursae Majoris)
79 Ursae Majoris
SAO28737
SAO28737
NN 3783 A