About Menkar
Description
Menkar is a red giant of spectral type M1.5IIIa at magnitude 2.53 in the constellation Cetus. Located about 250 light-years from Earth, it is a cool evolved star with a surface temperature of roughly 3,800 K and a diameter about 89 times that of the Sun. Despite its Alpha designation, Menkar is the second brightest star in Cetus, fainter than Beta Cet (Diphda).
Observing Tips
Menkar marks the 'nose' or 'jaw' of Cetus the Whale, located well south of the Pleiades and east of the Great Square of Pegasus. Its deep orange color is apparent to the naked eye and quite vivid in binoculars. It is useful as a guide for finding the famous variable star Mira (Omicron Cet), which lies about 6° to its south. Best observed from November through February.
History
The name Menkar comes from the Arabic 'al-minkhar,' meaning 'the nostril' or 'the nose,' referring to the whale's snout in the constellation figure. Menkar has been a reference point for identifying the constellation Cetus for over a thousand years in Arabic astronomical tradition.
Fun Facts
Menkar is brighter than what Bayer originally estimated — it actually outshines several stars in Cetus that carry earlier Greek letter designations. As a late-type M giant, it is losing mass through a gentle stellar wind and will eventually shed its outer layers to form a planetary nebula.
Observe
1Physical Properties
2Position & Identifiers
3How easy to spot?
| Equipment | Bortle 3 | Bortle 4 | Bortle 5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Naked eye Naked eye | Easy | Easy | Easy |
| 50 mm finder 50mm finder | Easy | Easy | Easy |
| 150 mm telescope 150mm scope | Easy | Easy | Easy |
Bortle 3 = rural · 4 = outer suburbs · 5 = suburbs
4Visibility
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5Survey Image
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Explore
7
Size Comparison
8
Compare Stars
9
Spectral Classification
10
Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram
11
Stellar Lifecycle
12
Blackbody Spectrum
13
Stellar Absorption Spectrum
Simulated absorption spectrum based on spectral type. Hover over lines to identify elements.
14
Stellar Fusion
Discover
15Stellar Notes
16
Light Travel Time Machine
17
Relativistic Travel
Nearby in the Sky
Other targets within a few degrees — pan your scope a little and keep exploring.
Visibility scores assume a 150 mm Newton at Bortle 4.
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