When is the best time to observe Misam?

Misam is best observed from October through December, with peak visibility during November when it transits around midnight in the Northern Hemisphere.

Where is Misam located in the sky?

Misam lies in the constellation Perseus at right ascension 03h 09m and declination +44° 51′.

What telescope do I need to see Misam?

At magnitude 3.8, Misam is visible to the naked eye from dark skies, easy in any binoculars.

Misam — Star in Perseus

Kappa Per

Magnitude 3.8^m Star Perseus (Per) Visible

Star Map + List + Plan

About Misam

Description

Misam, Kappa Persei, is a yellow giant of spectral class G9.5 IIIb about 113 light-years away in the central part of the constellation Perseus. The star shines at magnitude 3.80 and hosts a known exoplanet — Kappa Per b, a super-Jupiter discovered in 2008 via radial velocity. Misam is a red-clump giant, actively fusing helium in its core.

Observing Tips

Misam lies in a rich part of the Perseus Milky Way. A small telescope at low power shows a crowded star field as you sweep around Misam's position. The star's warm yellow color stands out in binoculars. Best observed September through February.

History

The name Misam comes from the Arabic "al-mīsām," meaning "the wrist" — referring to Perseus's wrist as he wields the sword. The IAU adopted the name in 2017.

Fun Facts

Misam was one of the first giant-star exoplanet hosts identified in the early 2000s, helping establish that planets can survive the stars' red-giant expansion phases. Its planet orbits at about 1 AU — within the zone that would have been engulfed during the star's fiercest red-giant expansion, suggesting the planet migrated inward after the host settled onto the giant branch.