Star profile

Theta Ceti

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

What is Theta Ceti

Theta Ceti is a Horizontal Branch orange giant: a star that has already passed through the red giant phase and now lives in chemical calm, fusing helium at its core. About a billion years old, it shines with the light of fifty-seven Suns and its radius has swollen to nearly twelve times solar. It belongs to Cetus, the sea monster Perseus slew to rescue Andromeda.

Where it is and when to see it

Theta Ceti lies in the southern 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 30° above the horizon.
From New York it culminates about 41° above the horizon.
From Sydney it culminates about 64° above the horizon.

It can be seen from anywhere south of 82° N.

It ranks no. 7 in brightness among the 111 stars of Cetus in our catalogue. To find it, start from Diphda, the brightest: it lies about 14° away (a fist at arm's length covers about 10°).

The light you see today left it about 110 years ago.

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Astronomical data for Theta Ceti

Constellation: Cetus
Apparent magnitude: 3.60
Distance: 113.8 light years
Coordinates (J2000): RA 21.006° · Dec -8.183°
Catalogue: HIP 6537 · HD 8512

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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