Star profile
Zeta Andromedae
Variable starWhat is Zeta Andromedae
Zeta Andromedae is an orange giant famed for the immense dark spots scattered across its surface —mapped by interferometry with a precision granted to only a handful of stars beyond the Sun. Tidally distorted by an unseen companion, it shows subtle ripples in brightness. Its light reached us after nearly two centuries crossing the autumn sky.
Where it is and when to see it
Zeta Andromedae lies in the northern celestial hemisphere. It is visible to the naked eye under a dark sky. Its best month of the year is October, when it culminates around midnight.
- From London it culminates about 63° above the horizon.
- From New York it culminates about 74° above the horizon.
- From Sydney it culminates about 32° above the horizon.
It can be seen from anywhere north of 66° S.
It ranks no. 9 in brightness among the 81 stars of Andromeda in our catalogue. To find it, start from Alpheratz, the brightest: it lies about 10° away (a fist at arm's length covers about 10°).
The light you see today left it about 190 years ago.
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Astronomical data for Zeta Andromedae
- Constellation
- Andromeda
- Apparent magnitude
- 4.08
- Distance
- 189.2 light years
- Coordinates (J2000)
- RA 11.835° · Dec 24.267°
- Catalogue
- HIP 3693 · HD 4502
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Other stars in Andromeda
Andromeda has 81 stars in Stelvia's catalogue. Here are a few of them.
- MirachBeta Andromedae2.07
- AlpheratzAlpha Andromedae2.07
- AlmachGamma 1 Andromedae2.10
- Omicron Andromedae3.62
- Lambda Andromedae3.81
- Mu Andromedae3.86
- TitawinUpsilon Andromedae4.10
- Kappa Andromedae4.15