When is the best time to observe Pherkad?

Pherkad is best observed from April through June, with peak visibility during May when it transits around midnight in the Northern Hemisphere.

Where is Pherkad located in the sky?

Pherkad lies in the constellation Ursa Minor at right ascension 15h 21m and declination +71° 50′.

What telescope do I need to see Pherkad?

At magnitude 3.0, Pherkad is visible to the naked eye from dark skies, easy in any binoculars.

Pherkad — Star in Ursa Minor

HIP 75097; Gamma Ursae Minoris; 13 Ursae Minoris

Magnitude 3.0^m Star Ursa Minor (UMi) Visible

Star Map + List + Plan

About Pherkad

Description

Pherkad (Gamma Ursae Minoris) is a white giant of spectral type A3II-III at magnitude 3.05 in Ursa Minor. Located about 480 light-years from Earth, it is a luminous star with roughly 1,100 times the Sun's luminosity and a surface temperature of about 8,600 K. Together with Kocab (Beta UMi), Pherkad forms the 'Guards of the Pole' — the two bright stars at the outer end of the Little Dipper's bowl.

Observing Tips

Pherkad and Kocab form the front edge of the Little Dipper's bowl, about 16 degrees from Polaris at the handle's end. They are the two brightest stars in the Little Dipper after Polaris and are sometimes called the 'Guardians' or 'Guards of the Pole' because they appear to circle protectively around Polaris. Pherkad is circumpolar from all northern mid-latitudes and visible year-round.

History

The name Pherkad comes from the Arabic 'al-farqadain,' meaning 'the two calves,' originally referring to both Gamma and Beta Ursae Minoris together. Around 1500 BC, Kocab and Pherkad served as rough pole stars, as the north celestial pole was much closer to them than to our current Polaris. They are sometimes called the 'Guardians of the Pole.'

Fun Facts

Pherkad is also classified as a Delta Scuti variable star, pulsating very slightly over a period of a few hours. The fact that Pherkad and Kocab once served as pole stars reminds us that Polaris has not always held that role — precession gradually shifts the celestial pole in a 26,000-year cycle.