Delta Cephei

Delta Cephei
Location of δ Cep (circled)
Observation data
Epoch J2000.0      Equinox J2000.0
Constellation Cepheus
δ Cep A
Right ascension 22h 29m 10.26502s
Declination +58° 24 54.7139
Apparent magnitude (V) 4.07 (3.48–4.37) / 7.5
δ Cep C
Right ascension 22h 29m 09.248s
Declination +58° 24 14.76
Apparent magnitude (V) 6.3
Characteristics
Spectral type F5Ib-G1Ib + B7-8
U−B color index 0.36
B−V color index 0.60
Variable type Cepheid
Astrometry
Radial velocity (Rv)−16.8 km/s
Proper motion (μ) RA: +15.35 mas/yr
Dec.: +3.52 mas/yr
Parallax (π)3.66+0.09
−0.10
 mas
Distance887±26 ly
(272±8 pc)
Absolute magnitude (MV)−3.47±0.10 (−3.94 - −3.05)
Orbit
Primaryδ Cep A
Companionδ Cep B
Period (P)9.32+0.03
−0.04
years
Semi-major axis (a)0.029+0.002
−0.003
Eccentricity (e)0.71±0.02
Inclination (i)124+17
−12
°
Longitude of the node (Ω)78+56
−50
°
Periastron epoch (T)1982.294+0.111
−0.101
Argument of periastron (ω)
(secondary)
230+4
−3
°
Semi-amplitude (K1)
(primary)
1.509±0.2 km/s
Details
δ Cep A
Mass5.26+1.26
−1.4
 M
Radius46.1+1.9
−2.1
 R
Luminosity1,949±107 L
Surface gravity (log g)1.65 cgs
Temperature5,905±29 K
Metallicity [Fe/H]+0.08 dex
Rotational velocity (v sin i)9 km/s
δ Cep B
Mass0.72±0.11 M
δ Cep C
Temperature8,800 K
Other designations
27 Cephei, BD+57 2548, FK5 847, HD 213306, HIP 110991, HR 8571, SAO 34508.
Database references
SIMBADdata

Delta Cephei (δ Cep, δ Cephei) is a quadruple star system located approximately 887 light-years away in the northern constellation of Cepheus, the King. At this distance, the visual magnitude of the star is diminished by 0.23 as a result of extinction caused by gas and dust along the line of sight. It is the prototype of the Cepheid variable stars that undergo periodic changes in luminosity.