Andromeda 4

Gamma1 Andromedae

Distance (Light Years)
355 ± 28
Visual Magnitude
2.1
Color (B-V)
1.37

Names For This Star

This star is also known as Almaak, Alamak, Almak, or Almaach. The names derive from the Arabic phrase Al 'Anak al 'Ard, which is a small Arabian animal similar to a badger.

Description of the Star

According to Burnham Almach appears as a double star when seen through a telescope. The brighter star of the pair appears golden yellow or slightly orange, while the dimmer companion appears greenish-blue. The star appears as a double star in a telescope, but in fact there are at least four components in the system.
The primary, Almach A, is a yellow-orange K3-IIb bright giant about 1500 times as luminous as our sun.

Alpha Andromedae

Distance (Light Years)
97.1 ± 2.1
Visual Magnitude
2.07
Color (B-V)
-0.11

Names For This Star

Other names for this star are Alpherat, Sirrah, or Sirah. These names derive from the Arabic phrase Al Surrat al Faras meaning "The Horse's Navel." The name is appropriate to the location of the star in the figure of Pegasus, The Flying Horse. However, the star is now considered to belong to the constellation of Andromeda, and indeed the Arabian astronomers also designated this star as Al Ras al Mar'ah al Musalsalah meaning "The Head of the Woman in Chains."

Description of the Star

Alpheratz A is a blue B8IVpMnHg subgiant star, peculiar because of the unusual strength of mercury and manganese in its spectrum. The star is 5 times larger than the sun in diameter and 110 times more luminous.
The spectrum shows that the star has a companion orbiting with 96.7 day period. According to Burnham the spectrum of the companion has not been determined. The The Bright Star Catalog gives no information.

Mirach
Beta Andromedae

Distance (Light Years)
199.4 ± 9.3
Visual Magnitude
2.07
Color (B-V)
1.58

Names For This Star

Other names for the star are Merach, Mirac, Mirak, and al Mizar. The origin of these names is the Arabic name referring to a belt, girdle, or waist-cloth.

Description of the Star

Mirach is a red M0+IIIa giant about 470 times as luminous as the sun. The spectral type implies an effective temperature of 3200 K and a mass about 6 times that of the sun.