giant · M1.5III
Menkar
Menkar is a red giant (spectral type M1.5III) about 250 light-years away. With an apparent magnitude of 2.54 it is easy to see even from a city.
A red giant in Cetus, the "nose" of the sea monster.
Its light output is roughly 480 times that of the Sun (a rough estimate in visible light, calculated from brightness and distance).
From Germany (52° N) it rises and sets; it is best seen in the evening in November.
Key facts
- Distance
- ≈ 250 light-years
- Spectral type
- M1.5III (giant)
- Colour
- Red
- Apparent magnitude
- 2.54 mag
- Luminosity
- ≈ 480 × Sun
- Position
- Right ascension 3h 2m, declination 4.1°
More well-known stars
Data: Hipparcos / HYG catalogue (CC BY-SA 4.0). Luminosity and visibility are calculated estimates.