Sections

Catalogues

Tools and Links

Galactic Map

Show the direction and distance to this object on the Galactic Map.

Yildun

Pherkard, Delta Ursae Minoris, 23 Ursae Minoris

White Star in Ursa Minor

Show on Sky Map

Proper Names	Yildun, Pherkard
Bayer Designation	Delta Ursae Minoris
Flamsteed Number	23 Ursae Minoris
HR (BSC)	6789
HD	166205
Constellation	Ursa Minor
Right Ascension	17h 32m 13s
Declination	+86° 35' 11"
Distance	172 light years 53 parsecs
Magnitude	Apparent: +4.3 Absolute: +0.7
Spectral Class	A1Vn white main sequence star
Optimum Visibility	June / July (Usually visible from northern latitudes)
Notes	A white main sequence star with no known companions, fourth magnitude Yildun is unremarkable in stellar terms. Probably its most notable feature is the fact that it lies just 3½° from the Northern Celestial Pole in the skies of Earth, placing it very close to the brighter Pole Star, Polaris.

A white, A-type star lying more than 170 light years from the Sun. After Polaris, this is one of the closest named stars to the Northern Celestial Pole.

A close-up view of Yildun in Ursa Minor. Matter thrown outward from the star's photosphere forms loops and fan shapes ('prominences') thousands of miles across.

Indexes

Related Entries

v2.1g