Gamma Cephei is named Er Rai, the Shepherd, although now it serves to mark the tip of the dunce cap which the humbled king is forced to wear.

The star is an orange subgiant 45 light years away. In another 2000 years this star will become the pole star.

Gamma Cep is a convenient way to begin to study the stars of Cepheus. You should have found it by drawing a line from the Big Dipper to the Pole Star and continued the line another third of the same distance: Gamma Cep.

From gamma follow the curving stars in a counter-clock direction one field of view to beta.