Nu Cephei

ν Cephei
Location of ν Cephei (circled in red)
Observation data
Epoch J2000.0      Equinox J2000.0
Constellation Cepheus
Right ascension 21h 45m 26.925s
Declination +61° 07′ 14.900″
Apparent magnitude (V) 4.289 (4.25 to 4.35)
Characteristics
Evolutionary stage Blue supergiant
Spectral type A2Iab
Apparent magnitude (U) 4.94
Apparent magnitude (B) 4.81
Apparent magnitude (J) 3.14
Apparent magnitude (K) 2.85
U−B color index +0.119
B−V color index +0.518
Variable type Alpha Cygni
Astrometry
Radial velocity (Rv)−25.90 km/s
Proper motion (μ) RA: −3.545 mas/yr
Dec.: −2.025 mas/yr
Parallax (π)0.9321±0.0865 mas
Distance3,500 ± 300 ly
(1,070 ± 100 pc)
Absolute magnitude (MV)−6.82
Details
Mass15.4 M
Radius137 R
Luminosity102,000 L
Surface gravity (log g)1.35 cgs
Temperature8,800 K
Rotational velocity (v sin i)15 km/s
AgeMyr
Other designations
ν Cep, 10 Cephei, BD+60°2288, FK5 1572, HD 207260, HIP 107418, HR 8334, SAO 19624
Database references
SIMBADdata

Nu Cephei is a blue-hued variable star in the northern constellation Cepheus. Its name is a Bayer designation that is Latinized from ν Cephei, and abbreviated Nu Cep or ν Cep. This is a pulsating α Cygni variable star that ranges in apparent visual magnitude from 4.25 to 4.35. This is bright enough to make it visible to the naked eye as a fourth-magnitude star. Distance estimates place it at about 3,500 light-years from Earth. It is drifting closer to the Sun with a line of sight velocity component of −26 km/s.

ν Cephei is a member of the Cepheus OB2 stellar association, which includes stars such as μ Cephei and VV Cephei.