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AsteriaStar
Main-sequence star · Cetus

Kaffaljidhma

Gamma Ceti

Knowledge graphGamma Cet86 CetHR 804HD 16970

Scientific overview

Kaffaljidhma is a main-sequence star in the constellation Cetus (Ceti), lying about 79.61 light-years from Earth.

Class A. White stars with strong hydrogen lines. Many of the brightest stars in the sky are class A. Such stars have surface temperatures around 7,500–10,000 K and appear white to the eye.

Physical properties

Spectral typeA3V
Luminosity classV
Apparent magnitude3.47
Absolute magnitude1.53
Luminosity (Sun = 1)21.242
Colour index (B−V)0.093
Distance79.61 ly (24.41 pc)

Values are real catalogue data; fields without a reliable value are omitted, never estimated.

Precision measurements

Astrometry and astrophysics from SIMBAD

Parallax40.97 ± 0.63 masSIMBAD · measured
Proper motion (RA)-146.1 mas/yrSIMBAD · measured
Proper motion (Dec)-146.1 mas/yrSIMBAD · measured
Radial velocity-4.9 ± 0.9 km/sSIMBAD · measured
Spectral typeA2Vn+F4VSIMBAD · catalogued
Right ascension (ICRS)40.8252 degSIMBAD · measured
Declination (ICRS)3.2358 degSIMBAD · measured
Full field-level provenance
  • Parallax: Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg (CDS) · SIMBAD · basic · plx_value · 2007A&A...474..653V · direct catalogue measurement · retrieved 2026-07-11
  • Proper motion (RA): Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg (CDS) · SIMBAD · basic · pmra · 2007A&A...474..653V · direct catalogue measurement · retrieved 2026-07-11
  • Proper motion (Dec): Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg (CDS) · SIMBAD · basic · pmdec · 2007A&A...474..653V · direct catalogue measurement · retrieved 2026-07-11
  • Radial velocity: Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg (CDS) · SIMBAD · basic · rvz_radvel · 2006AstL...32..759G · direct catalogue measurement · retrieved 2026-07-11
  • Spectral type: Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg (CDS) · SIMBAD · basic · sp_type · 2014yCat....1.2023S · catalogue identifier/value · retrieved 2026-07-11
  • Right ascension (ICRS): Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg (CDS) · SIMBAD · basic · ra · 2007A&A...474..653V · direct catalogue measurement · retrieved 2026-07-11
  • Declination (ICRS): Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg (CDS) · SIMBAD · basic · dec · 2007A&A...474..653V · direct catalogue measurement · retrieved 2026-07-11

measured = direct catalogue value · estimated = Bayesian inference (Bailer-Jones distance) · modeled = model output (Gaia GSP-Phot). Fields a source did not provide are omitted, never invented.

Evolution

A main-sequence star fuses hydrogen into helium in its core. It will remain on the main sequence for most of its life before evolving into a giant.

Location in the sky

Constellation
Cetus
Hemisphere
Both (equatorial)
Best seen
Winter (N. evening sky)
RA / Dec
2.7217h / 3.2358°

Knowledge connections

  • In constellationCetus

Sources

The primary and reference sources this topic draws on.

  • HYG DatabaseHYG Database (Hipparcos + Yale Bright Star + Gliese), by D. Nash / astronexus

    Aggregated, openly-licensed star catalogue combining Hipparcos, the Yale Bright Star Catalogue, and the Gliese Catalogue of Nearby Stars.

  • HipparcosESA Hipparcos space astrometry mission

    High-precision parallax, magnitude, and position for ~118,000 stars.