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Scheat

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description Scheat Overview

Scheat, officially designated Beta Pegasi, is a red giant star in the northern constellation of Pegasus. It forms the upper right corner of the Great Square of Pegasus, a prominent autumn asterism. The star is a semi-regular variable, meaning its brightness fluctuates over a roughly predictable period, with its radius measuring over 100 times that of the Sun. Because it has exhausted the hydrogen in its core, it has expanded significantly and is cooler than the Sun, emitting a distinct orange-red hue.

help Scheat FAQ

Why does Scheat change brightness?

Scheat is a semiregular variable whose expanded outer layers pulsate and change their light output. Its apparent brightness generally shifts subtly, rather than producing the sudden eruptions associated with a nova.

How can I identify Scheat in the Great Square of Pegasus?

Scheat forms the northwestern corner of the Great Square, directly above Markab when the pattern is shown in its familiar upright orientation. Its orange-red color also distinguishes it from the square's bluer stars.

How large is Scheat compared with the Sun?

Scheat is an expanded red giant with a radius around 100 times that of the Sun, although estimates vary by model. Placed at the center of our Solar System, its visible surface would extend far beyond the Sun's present diameter but remain inside Earth's orbit.

Are Scheat and Markab physically connected?

No, they only appear together as neighboring corners of the Great Square of Pegasus. Scheat and Markab lie at different distances from Earth and do not form a binary system.

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