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Merope (star)

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Merope
Observation data
Epoch J2000.0      Equinox J2000.0
Constellation Taurus
Right ascension 03h 46m 19.6s
Declination +23° 56' 54"
Apparent magnitude (V) +4.14
Absolute magnitude (V)−1.07
Distance440 ly
(135 pc)
Spectral typeB6IVe
Other designations
23 Tauri, V971 Tauri,
HR 1156, HD 23480,
BD+23 522, HIP 17608,
SAO 76172, GC 4512,
BDS 1858,
CCDM 03463+2357

Merope is a star in the constellation Taurus and a member of the Pleiades star cluster. It is approximately 440 light years from Earth.

Merope is a blue-white B-type subgiant with a mean apparent magnitude of +4.14. It has a luminosity of 630 times that of the Sun and a surface temperature of 14,000 kelvins. Merope's mass is roughly 4.5 solar masses and has a radius more than 4 times as great as the Sun's. It is classified as a Beta Cephei type variable star and its brightness varies by 0.01 magnitudes.

Surrounding Merope is the Merope Nebula. Part of the nebula that the Pleiades Cluster is currently passing through, it appears brightest around Merope and is listed in the Index Catalogue as number IC 349.