Alkaid

Alkaid (η Ursae Majoris) is a blue-white main-sequence star in the constellation Ursa Major. With an apparent magnitude of 1.86 it is the 39th-brightest star in the night sky, and it is about 100 light-years from Earth.

Finder chart showing where Alkaid is in the constellation Ursa Major
Alkaid (circled) in Ursa Major, with the surrounding constellations and bright stars.
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Facts

ConstellationUrsa Major
Designationη Ursae Majoris (Eta Ursae Majoris), HR 5191
Apparent magnitude1.86 (39th brightest)
Spectral typeB3V
Colorblue-white (B−V -0.19)
Distanceabout 100 light-years
Right ascension13 h 47.5 min
Declination+49.31°
Best monthJune (at about 9 pm)

Sources: star positions, magnitudes and colors from the Yale Bright Star Catalogue; constellation boundaries and star names from the IAU; areas and distances from Wikidata; stick figures by M. van der Sluys. How the maps are made.

How to find Alkaid

Alkaid is in Ursa Major. From 40° N it is highest in the north in June evenings, about 81° above the horizon. From 35° S it reaches about 6° in the north. Nearby bright stars: Mizar (7° away), Alioth (10° away) and Phecda (18° away).

Ursa Major constellation →

Other named stars in Ursa Major

AliothDubheMizarMerakPhecdaTania AustralisTalithaMegrezMuscidaTania BorealisAlula BorealisAlkaphrahTaiyangshouAlcorAlula Australis

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