ν Cephei (nu Cephei)

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

ν Cephei visual magnitude is 4.29. Because of its moderate brightness, ν Cephei 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 ν Cephei:

Color of ν Cephei ⬤

Magnitude of ν Cephei 4.29

Class Supergiant

VISIBILITY RIGHT NOW ν Cephei (nu Cephei) is above the horizon from Greenwich, United Kingdom [change]. Altitude: 50°.

Celestial coordinates and finder chart of ν Cephei

ν Cephei 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 ν Cephei are provided in the following table:

Right Ascension J2000 21h 45m 26s

Declination J2000 +61° 07’ 14”

Galactic Longitude 102.31°

Galactic Latitude 5.93°

Constellation Cepheus

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

Simplified finder chart for ν Cephei (nu Cephei).

Visibility of ν Cephei from your location

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

ν Cephei (nu Cephei) is circumpolar and transits at 09:35 UTC (altitude: 80.4°)

Digitized Sky Survey image of ν Cephei

The image below is a photograph of ν 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 ν Cephei 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.

DSS2 image of ν Cephei. The red arrow shows the motion of ν Cephei during the next 100000 years (-5.00 arcmin in Right Ascension and -5.00 arcmin in declination);

Distance of ν Cephei from the Sun and relative movement

ν Cephei is distant 5,093.75 light years from the Sun and it is moving towards the Sun at the speed of 21 kilometers per second.

Distance (parsec) 1,562.50 pc

Distance (light year) 5,093.75 ly

Heliocentric radial velocity -21 km/s

Proper Motion RA -0.003 arcsec/year

Proper Motion Dec -0.003 arcsec/year

Spectral properties of ν Cephei

ν Cephei belongs to spectral class A2 and has a luminosity class of I corresponding to a supergiant star.

Absolute magnitude -6.68

Spectral Type A2I

Color Index (B-V) 0.52

Temperature of ν Cephei 6300K

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

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

Alternative designations of ν Cephei

Bayer designation ν Cephei
(nu Cephei)

Flamsteed designation 10 Cephei

Henry Draper Catalogue HD207260

SAO Catalogue SAO19624

Hipparcos Catalogue HIP107418

Durchmusterung Catalogue BD+60 2288

FK5 Catalogue 1572

General Catalogue of Variable Stars Nu Cep

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In Evidence

Other stars in Cepheus