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Star

Delta Cephei

Also δ Cep · 27 Cephei

Open in Ouranos

The prototype of the Cepheid variables, stars whose pulse rate tells how bright they really are — the rungs of the cosmic distance ladder.

Measured

Distance
917 light-years
Constellation
Cepheus
Position (J2000)
RA 22h 29m 10s, Dec +58.42°

How far, from the Sun

917 light-years. To cross it:

  • Light917 years
  • Voyager 1's speed16.3 million years
  • Driving at 100 km/h9.9 billion years

Voyager 1 at the speed it moved outward over the year to 2026-10-25 (JPL Horizons). Driving: nonstop, never refuelling.

Facts

  • It brightens and fades every 5.37 days.

How it was found

  • John Goodricke discovered its variation in 1784.

Where this comes from

  • Gaia DR3 parallax 3.5551 ± 0.1475 mas, Gaia DR3 2200153454733285248 (Gaia Collaboration 2023, A&A 674, A1)
  • This research has made use of the SIMBAD database, CDS, Strasbourg, France (Wenger et al. 2000, A&AS 143, 9).
  • This research has made use of the VizieR catalogue access tool, CDS, Strasbourg, France (DOI: 10.26093/cds/vizier).

Every catalogue Ouranos draws is credited on the credits page.