Alpha Persei

α Persei
	Location of α Persei (circled)
Observation data; Epoch J2000 Equinox J2000
Constellation	Perseus
Right ascension	03h 24m 19.37009s
Declination	+49° 51′ 40.2455″
Apparent magnitude (V)	1.806
Characteristics
Spectral type	F5 Ib
U−B color index	+0.38
B−V color index	+0.483
Astrometry
Radial velocity (Rv)	−2.04 km/s
Proper motion (μ)	RA: +23.75 mas/yr ; Dec.: −26.23 mas/yr
Parallax (π)	6.44 ± 0.17 mas
Distance	510 ± 10 ly ; (155 ± 4 pc)
Absolute magnitude (MV)	−5.1
Details
Mass	8.5 ± 0.3 M☉
Radius	68 ± 3 R☉
Surface gravity (log g)	1.90 ± 0.04 cgs
Temperature	6,350 ± 100 K
Metallicity [Fe/H]	−0.02 dex
Rotational velocity (v sin i)	20 km/s
Age	41 Myr
Other designations
	Mirfak, Mirphak, Marfak, Algeneb, Algenib, α Persei, α Per, Alpha Per, 33 Persei, BD+49 917, CCDM J03243+4951A, FK5 120, GC 4041, HD 20902, HIP 15863, HR 1017, IDS 03171+4930 A, PPM 46127, SAO 38787, WDS J03243+4952A
Database references
SIMBAD	data

Alpha Persei (Latinized from α Persei, abbreviated Alpha Per, α Per), formally named Mirfak (pronounced /ˈmɜːrfæk/ or /ˈmɪərfæk/), is the brightest star in the northern constellation of Perseus, outshining the constellation's best-known star, Algol (β Persei). Alpha Persei has an apparent visual magnitude of 1.8, and is a circumpolar star when viewed from mid-northern latitudes.

Alpha Persei lies in the midst of a cluster of stars named as the eponymous Alpha Persei Cluster, or Melotte 20, which is easily visible in binoculars and includes many of the fainter stars in the constellation. Determined distance using the trigonometric parallax, places the star 510 light-years (160 parsecs) from the Sun.

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