#melotte 20

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The α Persei Cluster, Melotte 20 // Chris H

Also known as Mirfak, α Persei is the bright star to the right. It is the brightest star in Perseus, lying about 510 light years away. Its name comes from the Arabic word mirfaq meaning "elbow."

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The Alpha Persei Cluster, Melotte 20 // Wayne Malkin

Mirfak (α Persei, bottom right) is the brightest star in the constellation of Perseus, named after the eponymous hero. This is a solitary star about 510 light years away. It is a white supergiant star, being about 7 times more massive and 53 times as large as the Sun. Its name comes from the Arabic phrase Mirfaq al-Thurayya meaning "elbow of Thurayya".

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The α Persei Cluster // Catherine Ryan Hyde

The bright star at the center is none other than Mirfak (α Persei) itself! This is a blue-white supergiant star. Its name comes from the Arabic phrase Mirfaq al-Thurayya, meaning "elbow of the Little Abundant One." Thurayya is an ancient Arabic constellation that stretches across modern-day Cetus, Perseus, and Cassiopeia, with the Pleiades as the "head".

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The Alpha Persei Cluster with Mirfak (α Persei) at center // Volker Wiedhoff