description Mirfak Overview
Mirfak (Alpha Persei) is an F-type yellow-white supergiant roughly 590 light-years from Earth and the brightest star in the constellation Perseus, with an apparent magnitude of about 1.8. It serves as the gravitational anchor of the Alpha Persei Moving Cluster (Melotte 20), an open cluster of stars sharing common proper motion. Mirfak is one of several bright stars in the Perseus OB3 association visible to the naked eye in the northern sky.
insights Ranking position
Mirfak ranks #95 of 212 in the Star ranking, behind Kochab, ahead of Mirach.
help Mirfak FAQ
Why is Mirfak brighter than Algol in the constellation Perseus?
Mirfak is a luminous yellow-white supergiant and appears as the brightest star in Perseus. Algol is more famous because it is an eclipsing variable, but its normal apparent brightness is lower than Mirfak's.
Is Mirfak part of the Alpha Persei Cluster?
Yes, Mirfak sits near the gravitational and visual center of the Alpha Persei Cluster, also cataloged as Melotte 20. The cluster is a loose group of young stars that can be explored with binoculars.
How far away is Mirfak?
Mirfak is roughly 590 light-years from Earth, although published estimates vary with the astrometric data used. Its intrinsic luminosity is therefore far greater than its modest naked-eye appearance suggests.
Can Mirfak be seen without a telescope?
Yes, Mirfak is a second-magnitude star and is readily visible to the unaided eye under ordinary dark skies. Northern observers can use the recognizable shape of Perseus and nearby Cassiopeia to locate it.
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