Beta Ceti
 Location of β Ceti (circled) |
|
| Observation data Epoch J2000 Equinox J2000 |
|
|---|---|
| Constellation | Cetus |
| Right ascension | 00h 43m 35.37090s |
| Declination | –17° 59′ 11.7827″ |
| Apparent magnitude (V) | 2.02 |
| Characteristics | |
| Spectral type | K0 III |
| U−B color index | +0.88 |
| B−V color index | +1.01 |
| Variable type | Suspected |
| Astrometry | |
| Radial velocity (Rv) | +12.9 km/s |
| Proper motion (μ) |
RA: +232.55 mas/yr Dec.: +31.99 mas/yr |
| Parallax (π) | 33.86 ± 0.16mas |
| Distance | 96.3 ± 0.5 ly (29.5 ± 0.1 pc) |
| Absolute magnitude (MV) | –0.13 |
| Details | |
| Mass | 2.8 M☉ |
| Radius | 16.78 ± 0.25 R☉ |
| Luminosity | 139.1 ± 7.0 L☉ |
| Surface gravity (log g) | 2.7 cgs |
| Temperature | 4,797 K |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | –0.09 dex |
| Rotational velocity (v sin i) | 18 km/s |
| Age | > 1 Gyr |
| Other designations | |
| Database references | |
| SIMBAD | data |
| ARICNS | data |
Beta Ceti (β Ceti, abbreviated Beta Cet, β Cet), also named Diphda, is the brightest star in the constellation of Cetus. Although designated 'beta', it is actually brighter than the 'alpha' star in the constellation (Alpha Ceti). This orange giant is easy to identify due to its location in an otherwise dark section of the celestial sphere. Based on parallax measurements, it lies at an estimated distance of 96.3 light-years (29.5 parsecs) from the Sun.
Diphda has an apparent visual magnitude of 2.02, making it the brightest star in Cetus. The stellar classification of this star is K0 III, although some sources list a classification of G9.5 III indicating that it lies along the dividing line separating G-type from K-type stars. The luminosity class of 'III' means that it is a giant star that has consumed the hydrogen at its core and evolved away from an A-type main sequence star. After passing through the red giant stage, it underwent the helium flash event and is generating energy through the thermonuclear fusion of helium at its core. Beta Ceti will remain in this mode for over 100 million years.
The effective temperature of the star's outer envelope is about 4,797 K, giving it the characteristic orange hue of a K-type star. In spite of its cooler temperature, Diphda is much brighter than the Sun with a bolometric luminosity of about 145 times the luminosity of the Sun, resulting from a radius 18 times as large as the Sun and a mass that is 2.8 times the Sun's mass.
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