Beta Andromedae

Mirach ( " loins " ) is the name of the star β Andromedae (Beta Andromedae ). Mirach has an apparent magnitude of 2.1 mag and is about 200 light-years away ( Hipparcos database). Mirach is a supergiant of spectral type M0 III with a surface temperature of about 3300 Kelvin.

Mirach is not only the center of the constellation Andromeda, but also the distinctive five-star series, which can be seen in the night sky of the northern hemisphere most of the year.

Of Mirach 7-8 ° north-west is the famous Andromeda Galaxy (M31 ), the large neighbor galaxy of our Milky Way, which is usually already freiäugig visible. By " star hopping " you can find them easily on the two stars right above Mirach.