main-sequence star · A1V
Merak
Merak is a blue-white main-sequence star (spectral type A1V) about 79 light-years away. With an apparent magnitude of 2.34 it is easy to see even from a city.
One of the two "pointer stars" leading to the pole star.
Its light output is roughly 60 times that of the Sun (a rough estimate in visible light, calculated from brightness and distance).
From Germany (52° N) it never sets: it stays above the horizon all year.
Key facts
- Distance
- ≈ 79 light-years
- Spectral type
- A1V (main-sequence star)
- Colour
- Blue-white
- Apparent magnitude
- 2.34 mag
- Luminosity
- ≈ 60 × Sun
- Position
- Right ascension 11h 2m, declination 56.4°
More well-known stars
Data: Hipparcos / HYG catalogue (CC BY-SA 4.0). Luminosity and visibility are calculated estimates.