description Markab Overview
Markab, designated Alpha Pegasi, is a hot blue-white subgiant star located in the constellation Pegasus. It is the third-brightest star in the constellation and serves as the southwest corner of the Great Square of Pegasus asterism, which dominates the autumn night sky. The star has exhausted the hydrogen fuel in its core and is evolving into a red giant, currently possessing a radius several times larger than the Sun. Its name is derived from an Arabic word meaning 'the saddle' of the mythical winged horse.
help Markab FAQ
How can I find Markab in the night sky?
Markab marks the southwestern corner of the Great Square of Pegasus, a large four-star pattern prominent during Northern Hemisphere autumn. The other corners are Scheat, Algenib, and Alpheratz, although Alpheratz officially belongs to Andromeda.
Is Markab actually the brightest star in Pegasus?
Despite its Alpha Pegasi designation, Markab is not the constellation's brightest star. Enif, designated Epsilon Pegasi, appears brighter from Earth.
What type of star is Markab?
Markab is a hot blue-white evolved star commonly classified near spectral type B9 or A0. Catalogs differ slightly over whether to label it a giant or subgiant, but it has moved beyond an ordinary Sun-like main-sequence state.
How far away is Markab compared with the other Great Square stars?
Markab is roughly 130 to 140 light-years from Earth, based on modern parallax measurements. The Great Square is only a visual pattern, so its four stars are not all physically close to one another.
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