Astronomy and Space

Delta Ceti

Delta Ceti is a candidate binary star system in the equatorial constellation of Cetus. Its name is a Bayer designation that is Latinized from δ Ceti and abbreviated Delta Cet or δ Cet. The star's apparent visual magnitude of +4.06 means it is generally visible to the naked eye except in places highly affected to light pollution (see Bortle scale). It is 0.3238° north of the celestial equator compared to the celestial north pole's 90°. The star is positioned about 0.74° WNW of the spiral galaxy M77, but which at apparent magnitude 9.6 needs magnification to be made out and has an apparent size of only 0.1° by 0.12°. Based upon an annual parallax shift of 5.02 mas as seen from Earth, it is around 650 light years from the Sun. Motion relative to our system's trajectory includes a highly parting vector: with a net radial velocity of about +13 km/s. It moves minutely across the celestial sphere – yet just over four times more in right ascension than in declination.

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See also

• ▸Fobos-Grunt
• ▸Adolf Bernhard Meyer
• ▸2020 SO

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