Alpha Ceti
| Observation data Epoch J2000 Equinox J2000 | |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Cetus |
| Right ascension | 03h 02m 16.77307s |
| Declination | +04° 05′ 23.0596″ |
| Apparent magnitude (V) | 2.53 |
| Characteristics | |
| Evolutionary stage | AGB |
| Spectral type | M1.5 IIIa |
| U−B color index | +1.93 |
| B−V color index | +1.64 |
| Astrometry | |
| Radial velocity (Rv) | −26.08±0.02 km/s |
| Proper motion (μ) | RA: −10.41±0.51 mas/yr Dec.: −76.85±0.36 mas/yr |
| Parallax (π) | 13.09±0.44 mas |
| Distance | 249 ± 8 ly (76 ± 3 pc) |
| Absolute bolometric magnitude (Mbol) | −3.2±0.3 |
| Details | |
| Mass | 2.3±0.2; 1.465–1.933 M☉ |
| Radius | 100.2±3.4 R☉ |
| Luminosity | 1,764±342 L☉ |
| Surface gravity (log g) | 0.66±0.07 cgs |
| Temperature | 3,738±170 K |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | −0.24±0.09 dex |
| Rotational velocity (v sin i) | 6.9 km/s |
| Other designations | |
| Menkar, 92 Ceti, HR 911, BD+03°419, HD 18884, SAO 110920, FK5 107, HIP 14135 | |
| Database references | |
| SIMBAD | data |
Alpha Ceti (α Ceti, abbreviated Alpha Cet, α Cet), officially named Menkar /ˈmɛŋkɑːr/, is the second-brightest star in the constellation of Cetus. It is a cool luminous red giant estimated to be about 250 light years away based on parallax.