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Stars of Perseus |
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| Observation data Epoch J2000 Equinox J2000 |
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|---|---|
| Constellation | Perseus |
| Right ascension | 03h 58m 57.9011s[1] |
| Declination | +35° 47′ 27.717″[1] |
| Apparent magnitude (V) | 4.042[1] |
| Characteristics | |
| Spectral type | O7.5IIIe[1] |
| U−B color index | +-0.97[1] |
| B−V color index | +0.03[1] |
| Variable type | slightly variable |
| Astrometry | |
| Radial velocity (Rv) | 70.1[1] km/s |
| Proper motion (μ) | RA: 1.92[1] mas/yr Dec.: 2.30[1] mas/yr |
| Parallax (π) | 1.84 ± 0.70[1] mas |
| Distance | approx. 1800 ly (approx. 500 pc) |
| Absolute magnitude (MV) | −4.70 |
| Details | |
| Mass | 40 [2] M☉ |
| Luminosity | 330,000 [2] L☉ |
| Temperature | 37,000 [2] K |
| Rotation | 216 km/s. |
| Age | 2–3×106[2] years |
| Other designations | |
Xi Persei (ξ Per) is a star in the constellation Perseus. It has the traditional name Menkib (Menchib, Menkhib, Arabic for "shoulder" [of the Pleiades]). Menkib has an apparent magnitude of +4.042 and is classified as a blue giant (spectral class O7.5III). It is approximately 1800 light years from Earth.
Its apparent luminosity is 13,500 times that of the Sun. If we include the ultraviolet light that emanates from Menkib, however, its total (bolometric) luminosity increases to 330,000 times that of the Sun.
The star has a mass of some 40 solar masses and a surface temperature of 37,000 kelvins, making it one of the hottest stars that can be seen with the naked eye.
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