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Menkib — Star in Perseus

Xi Per

Magnitude 4.0m Star Perseus (Per) Visible
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1Physical Properties

Magnitude 4.04
Range 4.00 - 4.06
Variable Type *
Spectral Type O7.5III(n)((f)) giant
Star Color White (B-V 0.01)

2Position & Identifiers

RA 03h 58m 57.9s
Dec +35° 47' 28.0"
Constellation Perseus (Per)
HR 1228
HIP 18614
HD 24912
SAO 56856
Bayer Xi
Flamsteed 46 Per
Variable ID Xi Per
SIMBAD Wikipedia

3How easy to spot?

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Equipment Bortle 3 Bortle 4 Bortle 5
Naked eye Easy Medium+ Medium
50mm finder Easy Easy Easy
150mm scope Easy Easy Easy
Easy Medium Hard Very hard Impossible

Bortle 3 = rural · 4 = outer suburbs · 5 = suburbs

4Visibility

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Best season Oct – Dec (peak: Nov)

5Survey Image

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7

Size Comparison

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8

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9

Spectral Classification

10

Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram

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Read: The Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram — Reading Stars Like a Map
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

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15Stellar Notes

Slightly variable, possibly same period as SB.
6.951d.
Color excess E(B-V) = +0.32.
Runaway star from Per OB2. Within 1d and exciting star of HII region S220. Ionizes region at edge of California nebula = | NGC 1499.
Interstellar CO emission. Central Balmer emission in blue-violet only.
Menkib; Menkhib; Menchib.

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.

California nebula
NGC 1499
Medium+
Emission nebula — try an OIII filter
Emission Nebula mag 5.00 0.9° Perseus
NGC 1514
Hard+
Planetary nebula — try an OIII filter
Planetary Nebula mag 10.0 5.5° Taurus
NGC 1342
Easy
Rich open cluster
Open Cluster mag 6.7 5.7° Perseus
Show on Map

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