ρ Persei (rho Persei)

ρ Persei is a variable bright giant star in the constellation of Perseus.

ρ Persei visual magnitude is 3.39. Because of its moderate brightness, ρ Persei 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 ρ Persei:

Color of ρ Persei ⬤

Magnitude of ρ Persei 3.39

Class Bright giant

VISIBILITY RIGHT NOW ρ Persei (rho Persei) is above the horizon from Greenwich, United Kingdom [change]. Altitude: 53°.

Celestial coordinates and finder chart of ρ Persei

ρ Persei 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 ρ Persei are provided in the following table:

Right Ascension J2000 03h 05m 10s

Declination J2000 +38° 50’ 25”

Galactic Longitude 149.6°

Galactic Latitude -17.01°

Constellation Perseus

The simplified sky map below shows the position of ρ Persei in the sky:

Simplified finder chart for ρ Persei (rho Persei).

Visibility of ρ Persei from your location

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

ρ Persei (rho Persei) is circumpolar and transits at 14:57 UTC (altitude: 77.4°)

Digitized Sky Survey image of ρ Persei

The image below is a photograph of ρ Persei 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 ρ Persei is 0.13 arcsec per year in Right Ascension and -0.106 arcsec per year in Declination and the associated displacement for the next 1000 years is represented with the red arrow.

DSS2 image of ρ Persei. The red arrow shows the motion of ρ Persei during the next 1000 years (2.17 arcmin in Right Ascension and -1.77 arcmin in declination);

Distance of ρ Persei from the Sun and relative movement

ρ Persei is distant 325.02 light years from the Sun and it is moving far from the Sun at the speed of 28 kilometers per second.

Distance (parsec) 99.70 pc

Distance (light year) 325.02 ly

Heliocentric radial velocity 28 km/s

Proper Motion RA 0.13 arcsec/year

Proper Motion Dec -0.106 arcsec/year

Spectral properties of ρ Persei

ρ Persei belongs to spectral class M4 and has a luminosity class of II corresponding to a bright giant star.

Absolute magnitude -1.60

Spectral Type M4II

Color Index (B-V) 1.65

Temperature of ρ Persei 3581K

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

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

Alternative designations of ρ Persei

Bayer designation ρ Persei
(rho Persei)

Flamsteed designation 25 Persei

Henry Draper Catalogue HD19058

SAO Catalogue SAO56138

Hipparcos Catalogue HIP14354

Durchmusterung Catalogue BD+38 630

FK5 Catalogue 109

General Catalogue of Variable Stars Rho Per

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Other stars in Perseus