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X Persei — Star in Perseus

Magnitude 6.1–7.0m Star Perseus (Per) Visible
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1Physical Properties

Magnitude 6.10
Range 6.02 - 6.83
Period 250 days
Variable Type Gamma Cassiopeiae (Eruptive Be Star)
Spectral Type O9.5ep
Star Color Blue (B-V 0.29) (reddened by dust)

2Position & Identifiers

RA 03h 55m 23.0s
Dec +31° 02' 45.0"
Constellation Perseus (Per)
HR 1209
HIP 18350
HD 24534
SAO 56815
Variable ID X Per
Double Cat 2859

3How easy to spot?

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Equipment Bortle 3 Bortle 4 Bortle 5
Naked eye Hard+ Hard V. hard+
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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6

Size Comparison

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7

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8

Spectral Classification

9

Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram

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10

Stellar Lifecycle

11

Blackbody Spectrum

12

Stellar Absorption Spectrum

Simulated absorption spectrum based on spectral type. Hover over lines to identify elements.

13

Stellar Fusion

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14Stellar Notes

ADS 2859A, Gamma Cas 6.07 - 7.0V, 580.7?d. Amp. about 0.02U. X-ray period 22.4 hrs. Spectrum variable. Sudden | decrease in H alpha emission followed by 450 sec. flare in continuum. Possible neutron star companion pulsating in | 13.924 min. Simultaneous X-ray and optical obs. 21 Jan. 1975 showed X-ray var. by factor 2 but no corresponding optical | 100 sec. quasi periodic photometric var. may indicate binary with compact companion undergoing mass accretion.
CPM? Component A possibly optical counterpart or companion of X-ray source 4U0352+30. Possibly a triple system with a | neutron star moving around the optical primary in 22.4 hrs., and either apsidal period 581d or close double moving | around a distant component in 581d. Rotational velocity of primary, vsini 306k/s. Component ADS 2859B is normal M1III, | not T Tau type as once assumed.
580.7d, K 59k/s, V0 -50k/s, asini 471. Emission lines var. in RV, 22.4 hrs. and 581d.
Heavily reddened.
May not be member of Per OB2; Zeta Per group.
Sp. data suggest occasional interruption of almost steady infall of material through rotating emission region by | outbursts of material from the star.
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