Shedar (Alpha Cassiopeiae)

Alpha Cassiopeiae; 10"x4" field, ISO 400 Meade LX-90. Credit: Kevin Muenzler, Eagle Creek Observatory

An orange giant K star and normally the brightest star in the constellation Cassiopeiae, although it is occasionally well surpassed by the strange variable Gamma Cassiopeiae. Its name (also spelled Schedar, Shadar, or Shedir) comes from the Arabic for "breast," and refers to the position of the star in the ancient Queen.

Along with Hamal in Aries, Shedar has the distinction of being one of the first two stars beyond the Sun whose limb darkening has been directly observed. Though only 100 to 200 million years old, it has already left the main sequence, having ceased core hydrogen fusion. Shedar also hides a mystery because various 19th-century astronomers claimed it could fade to mid-third magnitude. It is still called a variable in most listings despite the fact that since the advent of permanent photographic and electronic recording, it has shone steadily.

visual magnitude	2.24
absolute magnitude	-1.99
surface temperature	4,530 K
spectral type	KIIIa
luminosity	855 L_sun
radius	42 R_sun
mass	4 to 5 M_sun
distance	229 light-years
position	R.A. 00h 40m 30.5s, Dec. +56° 32' 14.5"
other designations	18 Cassiopeiae, HR 168, BD+55°139, HD 3712, SAO 21609, FK5 21, HIP 3179, GC 792, ADS 561, CCDM J00405+5632

Related categories

• NOTABLE STARS
• VARIABLE STARS

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