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Phecda - γ Ursae Majoris (gamma Ursae Majoris)

Phecda, also designated as γ Ursae Majoris (gamma Ursae Majoris), is a variable hypergiant star in the constellation of Ursa Major.

Phecda visual magnitude is 2.44, making it the 87th brightest star in the sky. Thanks to its high brightness, Phecda 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 Phecda:

Color of Phecda ⬤

Magnitude of Phecda 2.44

Class Hypergiant

VISIBILITY RIGHT NOW Phecda - γ Ursae Majoris (gamma Ursae Majoris) is above the horizon from Greenwich, United Kingdom edit_location_alt. Altitude: 20°.

Celestial coordinates and finder chart of Phecda

Phecda 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 Phecda are provided in the following table:

Right Ascension J2000 11h 53m 49s

Declination J2000 +53° 41’ 40”

Galactic Longitude 140.84°

Galactic Latitude 61.38°

Constellation Ursa Major

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

Finder chart Phecda - γ Ursae Majoris (gamma Ursae Majoris) star

Simplified finder chart for Phecda - γ Ursae Majoris (gamma Ursae Majoris).

Visibility of Phecda from your location

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

Phecda - γ Ursae Majoris (gamma Ursae Majoris) is circumpolar and transits at 19:09 UTC (altitude: 87.8°)

Digitized Sky Survey image of Phecda

The image below is a photograph of Phecda 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 Phecda is 0.095 arcsec per year in Right Ascension and 0.012 arcsec per year in Declination and the associated displacement for the next 1000 years is represented with the red arrow.

Image of Phecda - γ Ursae Majoris (gamma Ursae Majoris) star

DSS2 image of Phecda. The red arrow shows the motion of Phecda during the next 1000 years (1.58 arcmin in Right Ascension and 0.20 arcmin in declination);

Distance of Phecda from the Sun and relative movement

Phecda is distant 83.61 light years from the Sun and it is moving towards the Sun at the speed of 13 kilometers per second.

Distance (parsec) 25.65 pc

Distance (light year) 83.61 ly

Heliocentric radial velocity -13 km/s

Proper Motion RA 0.095 arcsec/year

Proper Motion Dec 0.012 arcsec/year

Spectral properties of Phecda

Phecda belongs to spectral class A0 and has a luminosity class of V corresponding to a hypergiant star.

Absolute magnitude 0.39

Spectral Type A0V

Color Index (B-V) 0

Temperature of Phecda 10125K

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

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

Alternative designations of Phecda

Proper Name Phecda

Bayer designation γ Ursae Majoris
(gamma Ursae Majoris)

Flamsteed designation 64 Ursae Majoris

Henry Draper Catalogue HD103287

SAO Catalogue SAO28179

Hipparcos Catalogue HIP58001

Durchmusterung Catalogue BD+54 1475

FK5 Catalogue 447

General Catalogue of Variable Stars 5379

In Evidence

Other stars in Ursa Major