Alpha Persei
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Observation data Equinox J2000 |
|
|---|---|
| Constellation | Perseus |
| Right ascension | 03h 24m 19.4s |
| Declination | +49° 51′ 40″ |
| Apparent magnitude (V) | 1.79 |
| Characteristics | |
| Spectral type | F5 Ib |
| U-B color index | 0.37 |
| B-V color index | 0.48 |
| Variable type | ? |
| Astrometry | |
| Radial velocity (Rv) | -2 km/s |
| Proper motion (μ) | RA: 24.11 mas/yr Dec.: -26.01 mas/yr |
| Parallax (π) | 5.51 ± 0.66 mas |
| Distance | approx. 590 ly (approx. 180 pc) |
| Absolute magnitude (MV) | -4.50 |
| Details | |
| Mass | 11 M☉ |
| Radius | 56 R☉ |
| Luminosity | 5,400 L☉ |
| Temperature | 6,600 K |
| Metallicity | ? |
| Rotation | 18 km/s. |
| Age | ? years |
| Other designations | |
Alpha Persei (α Per) is the brightest star in the constellation of Perseus. It also has the traditional names Mirfak or Algenib.
It is a yellow supergiant star, and is a member of a cluster of stars known as the Alpha Persei Cluster, which is easily visible in binoculars and includes many of the fainter stars of Perseus.
In the Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram, Mirfak lies very close to the region in which Cepheid variables are found. It is thus useful in the study of these stars, which are extremely important standard candles.
