Pherkad

Pherkad (γ Ursae Minoris) is a white bright giant star in the constellation Ursa Minor. With an apparent magnitude of 3.05 it is the 186th-brightest star in the night sky, and it is about 766 light-years from Earth.

Finder chart showing where Pherkad is in the constellation Ursa Minor
Pherkad (circled) in Ursa Minor, with the surrounding constellations and bright stars.
Download:PNG

Free to use with credit: Atlas of the Sky (constellationmap.org), CC BY 4.0 · More

Embed this image on your website

Paste this HTML into your page. It shows the image and credits the source as the license requires.

Facts

ConstellationUrsa Minor
Designationγ Ursae Minoris (Gamma Ursae Minoris), HR 5735
Apparent magnitude3.05 (186th brightest)
Spectral typeA3II-III
Colorwhite (B−V 0.05)
Distanceabout 766 light-years
Right ascension15 h 20.7 min
Declination+71.83°
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 Pherkad

Pherkad is in Ursa Minor. From 40° N it never sets; it is highest in the north, about 58° up. From 35° S it stays below the horizon. Nearby bright stars: Kochab (3° away), Polaris (19° away) and Mizar (21° away).

Ursa Minor constellation →

Other named stars in Ursa Minor

PolarisKochabYildun

Report a mistake on this page