Zeta Cephei

Zeta Cephei
Location of ζ Cephei (circled)
Observation data
Epoch J2000      Equinox J2000
Constellation Cepheus
Right ascension 22h 10m 51.277s
Declination +58° 12′ 04.54″
Apparent magnitude (V) 3.35
Characteristics
Evolutionary stage Red supergiant
Spectral type K1.5 Ib
B−V color index +1.55
Astrometry
Proper motion (μ) RA: 13.359±0.148 mas/yr
Dec.: 5.275±0.183 mas/yr
Parallax (π)3.2972±0.1456 mas
Distance992.7+51.2
−46
 ly
(304.5+15.7
−14.1
 pc)
Absolute magnitude (MV)−4.7
Details
Mass10.1±0.1 M
Radius172.7+7.5
−8.3
 R
Luminosity10,024±1,052 L
Surface gravity (log g)0.75 cgs
Temperature4,393±58 K
Metallicity [Fe/H]+0.04 dex
Rotational velocity (v sin i)10.64 km/s
Other designations
21 Cephei, BD+57°2475, FK5 836, HD 210745, HIP 109492, HR 8465, SAO 34137, Gaia DR2 2199493438511811712, Gaia DR3 2199493438511811712
Database references
SIMBADdata

Zeta Cephei is a red supergiant star in the northern constellation of Cepheus. Its name is a Bayer designation that is Latinized from ζ Cephei, and abbreviated Zeta Cep or ζ Cep. With an apparent visual magnitude of 3.35, it is a third-magnitude star that is visible to the naked eye. Based on parallax measurements, it is located about 1000 light-years away from the Earth. Zeta Cephei marks the left shoulder of Cepheus, a mythical King of Aethiopia. It is one of the fundamental stars of the MK spectral sequence, defined as type K1.5 Ib.