Pherkad
Designations:
- Bayer: γ UMi
- Flamsteed: 13 UMi
- Hipparchos: HIP 75097
Data
- Constellation: Ursa Minor
- Apparent Magnitude: 3.04-3.09
- Variable Type: δ Scuti
- Right Ascension (J2000): 15h20m45.14s
- Declination (J2000): +71°50'21".7
- Distance: 494.18±21.71ly
Description
Situated at the end of the bowl of the Little Dipper, this star and Kochab comprise the Guardians of the Pole. Despite being close to the star Pherkad Minor (11 UMi), the two do not comprise a binary system. In fact, Pherkad is roughly 83ly further. As such, the former designations of γ1 for 11 and γ2 for γ have fallen into disuse.
Nomenclature
Pherkad, or Pherkad Major
Pherkad is from Arabic farqad, 'young gazelle', singular of the indigenous Arabian asterism name al-Farqadān, 'the two young gazelles', for β & γ UMi. Giuseppe Piazzi in his Palermo Catalogue (1801) named the close-by pair of γ UMi and 11 UMi Pherkad Major and Pherkad Minor, respectively, adding the Latin epithets major, 'larger, or greater', and minor, 'littler, or lesser', to indicate the larger and smaller components.
Akfi al Farkadan
Again referring to the ind-Arab asterism title al-Farqadān, Akfi al Farkadan comes from Arabic Aḫfī ’l-Farqadān, 'the dark, or dim one of the two young gaelles'.