Dictionary term
Mirfak
Direct answer
Mirfak is Alpha Persei, a luminous yellow-white supergiant and the brightest star in Perseus.
Mirfak is Perseus's brightest star at the heart of the Alpha Persei Cluster.
Mirfak is Perseus's brightest star at the heart of the Alpha Persei Cluster.
A symbolic locator, not a substitute for an observational chart at a specific place and time.Quick reference
- Use when
- Follow Cassiopeia toward Perseus and center binoculars on Mirfak to reveal the loose stellar stream around it.
- Do not use it for
- Not every star projected near Mirfak belongs to the physical association.
- Reference category
- Constellations & Star Lore
- Related terms
- Alnitak, Mintaka, Mirach, Almach
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The story behind Mirfak
The Arabic-derived name refers to the elbow of the Pleiades, reflecting an older regional figure.
Mirfak in spiritual tradition
Mirfak changes from a lone point into a stellar community when viewed with wider attention.
Mirfak: fact and faith, kept distinct
This is a factual sky reference. It can support wonder and orientation without turning a measured position or inherited pattern into a claim of fate or private revelation.
Mirfak in numerology
Mirfak is not a numerology claim. Any numbers attached to it should retain their ordinary scientific, calendrical, navigational, or historical meaning unless a separate symbolic interpretation is clearly labeled.
Why Mirfak matters
Its surrounding moving group gives binocular observers an expansive nearby association rather than a single isolated target.
Mirfak at work: an example
The Alpha Persei Cluster spreads across several degrees and therefore looks best at low magnification.
Where interpretation stops
Mirfak is presented as sourced astronomy, calendrical, Earth-science, cultural, or instrument-history reference. Definitions should distinguish measured phenomena from civil convention and historical interpretation, preserve location and time dependencies, and avoid turning factual sky data into a deterministic personal claim.
Sources and editorial method
Research references used for this entry include:
- IAU Division C Working Group on Star Names - Official IAU working group responsible for standardizing star names used in international astronomy.
- CDS SIMBAD Astronomical Database - Professional astronomical database for stellar identifiers, positions, classifications, and bibliography.
- Source
- The Great Almanac Dictionary
- Category
- Constellations & Star Lore
- Also appears in
- Constellations & Star Lore
- Aliases
- None listed
- Last updated
- 2026-07-16
Open the cluster around Mirfak
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More in Constellations & Star Lore
Common questions
What is Mirfak?
Mirfak is Alpha Persei, a luminous yellow-white supergiant and the brightest star in Perseus.
How is Mirfak used in an almanac?
Follow Cassiopeia toward Perseus and center binoculars on Mirfak to reveal the loose stellar stream around it.
What should I avoid when interpreting Mirfak?
Not every star projected near Mirfak belongs to the physical association.
