Rho2 Cephei

Rho2 Cephei
Location of ρ2 Cephei (circled in red)
Observation data
Epoch J2000.0      Equinox J2000.0 (ICRS)
Constellation Cepheus
Right ascension 22h 29m 52.97797s
Declination +78° 49′ 27.4320″
Apparent magnitude (V) 5.50
Characteristics
Evolutionary stage main sequence
Spectral type A3 V
U−B color index +0.07
B−V color index +0.06
Astrometry
Radial velocity (Rv)−1.25±0.37 km/s
Proper motion (μ) RA: +3.543 mas/yr
Dec.: −20.840 mas/yr
Parallax (π)13.6037±0.0544 mas
Distance239.8 ± 1.0 ly
(73.5 ± 0.3 pc)
Absolute magnitude (MV)+1.07
Details
Mass2.26+0.04
−0.11
 M
Radius2.43+0.04
−0.02
 R
Luminosity36.2+0.8
−5.4
 L
Surface gravity (log g)3.60 cgs
Temperature7,405+17
−33
 K
Rotational velocity (v sin i)133 km/s
Age85 Myr
503+146
−87
 Myr
Other designations
ρ Cephei, ρ2 Cep, 29 Cephei, BD+78°801, FK5 1593, HD 213798, HIP 111056, HR 8591, SAO 10402
Database references
SIMBADdata

Rho2 Cephei is a solitary star in the northern constellation of Cepheus. Its name is a Bayer designation that is Latinized from ρ2 Cephei, or simply ρ Cephei, and abbreviated Rho2 Cep or ρ2 Cep. With an apparent visual magnitude of 5.50, it is faintly visible to the naked eye, forming an optical pair with Rho1 Cephei. Based upon an annual parallax shift of 13.6 mas as seen from the Earth, it is located about 240 light years from the Sun.

Rho2 Cephei is an A-type main sequence star with a stellar classification of A3 V, estimated to be 500 million years old. It has a high rate of rotation, showing a projected rotational velocity of 133 km/s. The star has an estimated 2.26 times the mass of the Sun and 2.43 times the Sun's radius. It is radiating 36 times the luminosity of the Sun from its photosphere at an effective temperature of 7,405 K.

This star has been called by the Arabic name Al Kalb al Rāʽi, the Shepherd's Dog, which is better known (with the spelling Cebalrai) as a name for β Ophiuchi.