Kochab – A Bright Star in the UMi

Kochab is a relatively low-mass star within the constellation Ursa Minor, designated as UMi 72607. It is a faint point of light among the larger stars in the Milky Way. Its apparent magnitude is approximately 2.07, indicating it is relatively dim. Kochab is currently estimated to be around 100,000 – 200,000 times the luminosity of Earth.

Kochab is instantly recognizable in the sky due to its prominent position and bright appearance, particularly near the south end of the faint belt of stars between Jupiter and the Sun. It’s a particularly significant star within the UMi constellation, marking a stable point of illumination. The star’s luminosity is low, and its size, based on observed brightness, puts it firmly in the stellar region between giants, though this would require additional data.

Kochab is a relatively young star, potentially estimated to be around 2 billion years old, and has been stable enough to persist throughout the long run of the Milky Way’s evolution. Given its relatively low magnitude and recent age, it likely represents a member of a cluster of stars forming within the Ursa Minor system. The star’s location within the constellation’s boundaries, and its relative brightness, provide a consistent and dependable landmark in the night sky for observers across a wide region.

How to see it

Kochab has a visual magnitude of about 2.07: under a reasonably dark sky it is typically reachable with the unaided eye.

Sky position

Equatorial coordinates for Kochab: right ascension 14h 50m 42s, declination +74° 9′ 20″ (J2000), in the region of the Ursa Minor constellation (IAU figure UMi).

Ursa Minor — Explore by constellation

Catalog context

Kochab. It appears in classical and modern catalogs as Bayer/Flamsteed designation 7Bet UMi, HIP 72607, HD 131873, Gaia DR3 HYG-HIP-72607. In the SkyKeepsake Ursa Minor (UMi) browse hub it sits with other stars of the same IAU figure.

Catalog identifiers

Gaia

Gaia DR3 HYG-HIP-72607

HIP

72607

HD

131873

gaia_dr3

HYG-HIP-72607

Bayer / Flamsteed

7Bet UMi

Also known as

• 7Bet UMi
• Gaia DR3 TOP 5M HYG-HIP-72607
• HD 131873
• HIP 72607
• HYG-HIP-72607

Observed properties

Visual magnitude

2.07