When is the best time to observe Markab?

Markab is best observed from August through October, with peak visibility during September when it transits around midnight in the Northern Hemisphere.

Where is Markab located in the sky?

Markab lies in the constellation Pegasus at right ascension 23h 05m and declination +15° 12′.

What telescope do I need to see Markab?

At magnitude 2.5, Markab is visible to the naked eye under most conditions.

Markab — Star in Pegasus

Alpha Peg

Magnitude 2.5^m Star Pegasus (Peg) Visible

Star Map + List + Plan

About Markab

Description

Markab is the brightest star at the southwest corner of the Great Square of Pegasus, a blue-white star of spectral type B9III at magnitude 2.49. Located about 133 light-years from Earth, Markab has a luminosity roughly 200 times solar and a surface temperature of about 10,000 K. It is a slightly evolved star that has just left the main sequence.

Observing Tips

Markab anchors the southwestern corner of the Great Square of Pegasus, one of the most recognizable asterisms in the autumn sky. The Square is easy to find as a large, almost empty quadrilateral high in the sky during autumn evenings. Markab is the faintest of the four corner stars. Best observed from September through January.

History

The name Markab comes from the Arabic 'markab,' meaning 'the saddle' of the horse. The Great Square of Pegasus has been used as a test of sky darkness — the number of stars visible inside the Square with the naked eye indicates the limiting magnitude and transparency of the sky.

Fun Facts

The Great Square of Pegasus contains remarkably few bright stars within its boundaries — under good skies, only about 13 stars are visible inside it to the naked eye, making it a classic sky-quality test. Markab is sometimes confused with Scheat (Beta Peg), which is the star at the opposite corner.