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Cassiopeia (constellation)

From Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Cassiopeia
Constellation
Cassiopeia
AbbreviationCas
GenitiveCassiopeiae
Pronunciation/ˌkæsi.əˈp.ə/ Cássiopéia,
colloquially /ˌkæsiˈp.ə/ Cássiópeia;
genitive /ˌkæsi.əˈp./
Symbolismthe Seated Queen
Right ascension1
Declination+60
QuadrantNQ1
Area598 sq. deg. (25th)
Main stars5
Bayer/Flamsteed
stars
53
Stars with planets5
Stars brighter than 3.00m4
Stars within 10.00 pc (32.62 ly)7
Brightest starα Cas (Schedar) (2.15m)
Messier objects2
Meteor showersPerseids
Bordering
constellations
Camelopardalis
Cepheus
Lacerta
Andromeda
Perseus
Visible at latitudes between +90° and −20°.
Best visible at 21:00 (9 p.m.) during the month of November.
Photographed Oct. 1st, 2004 from near N41° W73° by Randal J.

Cassiopeia is a constellation in the northern sky. It was named after a queen in Greek mythology called Cassiopeia. It looks like a letter W or M, with five bright stars that make the W or the M shape. It has two very bright stars called ρ Cas and V509 Cas.

In 1572, a supernova called Tycho's Star, or SN 1572, was seen in Cassiopeia by many people. The best time to look for Cassiopeia is in late fall (September and early November.)