| Observation data EpochJ2000.0 EquinoxJ2000.0 (ICRS) | |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Cepheus |
| Right ascension | 22h 49m 40.817s[1] |
| Declination | +66° 12′ 01.46″[1] |
| Apparent magnitude (V) | 3.507[2] |
| Characteristics | |
| Spectral type | K0 III[3] |
| U−Bcolor index | +0.924[2] |
| B−Vcolor index | +1.053[2] |
| Astrometry | |
| Radial velocity (Rv) | −12.763±0.0008[4] km/s |
| Proper motion (μ) | RA: −65.89[1]mas/yr Dec.: −125.17[1]mas/yr |
| Parallax (π) | 28.29±0.10 mas[1] |
| Distance | 115.3 ± 0.4 ly (35.3 ± 0.1 pc) |
| Absolute magnitude (MV) | 0.76[3] |
| Details[5] | |
| Mass | 2.15±0.23 M☉ |
| Radius | 11.08±0.16 R☉ |
| Luminosity | 57.0±0.6 L☉ |
| Surface gravity (log g) | 2.69±0.06 cgs |
| Temperature | 4,768±33 K |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | +0.05±0.10 dex |
| Rotational velocity (v sin i) | 10[6] km/s |
| Age | 1.2±0.6 Gyr |
| Other designations | |
| ι Cep,32 Cep,BD+65°1814,HD 216228,HIP 112724,HR 8694,SAO 20268[7] | |
| Database references | |
| SIMBAD | data |
Iota Cephei (ι Cephei, ι Cep) is astar in the northernconstellationCepheus. Based upon an annualparallax shift of28.29 mas as seen from the Earth,[1] it is located about115 light years from theSun. The star is visible to the naked eye with anapparent visual magnitude of 3.5.[2]
It is aK-typegiant star with astellar classification of K0 III.[3] It is currently at anevolutionary stage known as thered clump, indicating that it is generating energy through the fusion ofhelium at its core.[8] It has 11 times the Sun's radius and about 2.15 times the mass of theSun. Its luminosity is 57 times that of the Sun, and its surface has aneffective temperature of 4,768 K.[5]
Iota Cephei is located within 5° of theprecessional path traced across thecelestial sphere by the Earth'sNorth pole. In about 3,000 years, it will be one of the closest visible stars to the celestial north pole, along withAlfirk which will also be within 5° of the precessional path, on the other side.
| Preceded by | Pole Star | Succeeded by |
|---|---|---|
| Errai | 5200AD to 7500AD with Alfirk | Alderamin |
