Star profile

Diphda

Beta Ceti · Cetus

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

What is Diphda

Diphda presides over Cetus the Sea Monster, an orange K-type giant burning quietly at 96 light-years. Its Arabic name, «Aḑ-Ḑifda ath-thaniya», means «the second frog», a curious linguistic relic from when medieval astronomers grouped bright, isolated stars under earthly metaphors. On moonless autumn nights in the northern sky, it stands out for its solitude: for many degrees around it the sky grows dim, which once made it a natural reference for sailors and cartographers.

Where it is and when to see it

Diphda lies in the southern 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 culminates about 21° above the horizon.
From New York it culminates about 31° above the horizon.
From Sydney it culminates about 74° above the horizon.

It can be seen from anywhere south of 72° N.

It is the brightest of the 111 stars of Cetus in our catalogue, which makes it the best starting point for finding your way around the constellation.

The light you see today left it about 96 years ago.

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Astronomical data for Diphda

Constellation: Cetus
Apparent magnitude: 2.04
Distance: 96.3 light years
Coordinates (J2000): RA 10.897° · Dec -17.987°
Catalogue: HIP 3419 · HD 4128

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Other stars in Cetus

Cetus has 111 stars in Stelvia's catalogue. Here are a few of them.

See all 111 stars in Cetus