Star profile

Eta Cepheus

Nearby star

3D likeness based on its real data · class K · ~4,200 K

What is Eta Cepheus

Eta Cephei is a nearby neighbor, only 46.5 light-years away —an orange K-type subgiant that has begun to swell after leaving its youth behind. Its closeness makes it a frequent target for studies of stars that foreshadow the Sun's distant fate. It shines quietly but firmly within the realm of King Cepheus, far from the bustle of the zodiacal constellations.

Where it is and when to see it

Eta Cepheus lies in the northern celestial hemisphere. It is visible to the naked eye under a dark sky. Its best month of the year is September, when it culminates around midnight.

From London it never sets and culminates about 80° up.
From New York it never sets and culminates about 69° up.
From Sydney it never rises above the horizon.

It can be seen from anywhere north of 28° S.

It ranks no. 5 in brightness among the 95 stars of Cepheus in our catalogue. To find it, start from Alderamin, the brightest: it lies about 4° away (a fist at arm's length covers about 10°).

The light you see today left it about 47 years ago.

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Astronomical data for Eta Cepheus

Constellation: Cepheus
Apparent magnitude: 3.41
Distance: 46.5 light years
Coordinates (J2000): RA 311.322° · Dec 61.839°
Catalogue: HIP 102422 · HD 198149

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Other stars in Cepheus

Cepheus has 95 stars in Stelvia's catalogue. Here are a few of them.

See all 95 stars in Cepheus