Star profile

Chi Ceti

3D likeness based on its real data · class F · ~6,500 K

What is Chi Ceti

Chi Ceti is a yellow-white double in the body of the sea-monster, only 77 light-years away. The main component is an F3 subgiant of 1.36 solar masses with a surface at 6,746 K, 17% hotter than the Sun and radiating nearly six times more energy. About seven hundred million years old, it is a star in full maturity, seen from one of the vastest constellations of the autumn sky.

Where it is and when to see it

Chi 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 28° above the horizon.
From New York it culminates about 39° above the horizon.
From Sydney it culminates about 67° above the horizon.

It can be seen from anywhere south of 79° N.

It ranks no. 17 in brightness among the 111 stars of Cetus in our catalogue. To find it, start from Diphda, the brightest: it lies about 18° away (a fist at arm's length covers about 10°).

The light you see today left it about 76 years ago.

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Astronomical data for Chi Ceti

Constellation: Cetus
Apparent magnitude: 4.66
Distance: 75.6 light years
Coordinates (J2000): RA 27.396° · Dec -10.686°
Catalogue: HIP 8497 · HD 11171

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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