ζ Cephei (zeta Cephei)

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

ζ Cephei visual magnitude is 3.35. Because of its moderate brightness, ζ 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 ζ Cephei:

Color of ζ Cephei ⬤

Magnitude of ζ Cephei 3.35

Class Supergiant

VISIBILITY RIGHT NOW ζ Cephei (zeta Cephei) is above the horizon from Greenwich, United Kingdom [change]. Altitude: 37°.

Celestial coordinates and finder chart of ζ Cephei

ζ Cephei 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 ζ Cephei are provided in the following table:

Right Ascension J2000 22h 10m 51s

Declination J2000 +58° 12’ 03”

Galactic Longitude 103.06°

Galactic Latitude 1.67°

Constellation Cepheus

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

Finder chart ζ Cephei (zeta Cephei) star

Simplified finder chart for ζ Cephei (zeta Cephei).

Visibility of ζ Cephei from your location

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

ζ Cephei (zeta Cephei) is circumpolar and transits at 09:56 UTC (altitude: 83.3°)

Digitized Sky Survey image of ζ Cephei

The image below is a photograph of ζ 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 ζ Cephei is 0.015 arcsec per year in Right Ascension and 0.004 arcsec per year in Declination and the associated displacement for the next 10000 years is represented with the red arrow.

DSS2 image of ζ Cephei. The red arrow shows the motion of ζ Cephei during the next 10000 years (2.50 arcmin in Right Ascension and 0.67 arcmin in declination);

Distance of ζ Cephei from the Sun and relative movement

ζ Cephei is distant 726.06 light years from the Sun and it is moving towards the Sun at the speed of 18 kilometers per second.

Distance (parsec) 222.72 pc

Distance (light year) 726.06 ly

Heliocentric radial velocity -18 km/s

Proper Motion RA 0.015 arcsec/year

Proper Motion Dec 0.004 arcsec/year

Spectral properties of ζ Cephei

ζ Cephei belongs to spectral class K1 and has a luminosity class of I corresponding to a supergiant star.

Absolute magnitude -3.39

Spectral Type K1I

Color Index (B-V) 1.57

Temperature of ζ Cephei 3691K

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

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

Alternative designations of ζ Cephei

Bayer designation ζ Cephei
(zeta Cephei)

Flamsteed designation 21 Cephei

Henry Draper Catalogue HD210745

SAO Catalogue SAO34137

Hipparcos Catalogue HIP109492

Durchmusterung Catalogue BD+57 2475

FK5 Catalogue 836

General Catalogue of Variable Stars 14066

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Other stars in Cepheus