Cepheus (constellation)

Cepheus

Constellation
List of stars in Cepheus
Abbreviation	Cep
Genitive	Cephei
Pronunciation	/ˈsiːfiəs/ or /ˈsiːfjuːs/; genitive /ˈsiːfiaɪ/
Symbolism	the King/King Cepheus
Right ascension	22 h
Declination	+70°
Quadrant	NQ4
Area	588 sq. deg. (27th)
Main stars	7
Bayer/Flamsteed stars	43
Stars with planets	1
Stars brighter than 3.00m	1
Stars within 10.00 pc (32.62 ly)	3
Brightest star	α Cep (Alderamin) (2.45m)
Nearest star	Kruger 60 (13.15 ly, 4.03 pc)
Messier objects	0
Meteor showers	None
Bordering constellations	Cygnus Lacerta Cassiopeia Camelopardalis Draco Ursa Minor
Visible at latitudes between +90° and −10°. Best visible at 21:00 (9 p.m.) during the month of November.

Cepheus is a constellation in the northern sky. It is named after Cepheus, King of Aethiopia in Greek mythology. It was one of the 48 constellations listed by the 2nd century astronomer Ptolemy, and remains one of the 88 modern constellations.

Notable features

Stars

γ Cephei is a binary star approximately 50 light years away from Earth. The system consists of an orange subgiant and a red dwarf. Due to the precession of the equinoxes, γ Cephei will be the pole star between AD 3000 and 5200, with the closest approach to the celestial pole around AD 4000. The primary component is orbited by a planet.

δ Cephei is the prototype Cepheid variable.^{[citation needed]} It was discovered to be variable by John Goodricke in 1784. It varies between 3.5^m and 4.3^m over a period around 5.4 days.^{[citation needed]}

There are three red supergiants in the constellation that are visible to the naked eye.^{[citation needed]} The first, μ Cephei, is also known as Herschel's Garnet Star due to its deep red colour. It is a semiregular variable star that varies between 3.4^m and 5.1^m over a period of 730 days.^{[citation needed]} The star is around 11.8 AU in radius.^{[citation needed]} If it were placed at the centre of our Solar System, it would extend to the orbit of Saturn.^{[citation needed]} The second, VV Cephei, is also variable and ranges from 4.8^m and 5.4^m over a period around 20 years.^{[citation needed]} The third red supergiant is V381 Cephei, whose apparent magnitude is 5.66^m.^{[citation needed]} Each of the stars are among the largest known.^{[citation needed]}

Kruger 60 is an 11th magnitude binary star consisting of two red dwarfs.^{[citation needed]} The star system is one of the nearest, being only 13 light years away from Earth.^{[citation needed]}

Deep-sky objects

• NGC 188 is an open cluster that has the distinction of being the closest open cluster to the north celestial pole, as well as one of the oldest known open clusters.
• The Fireworks Galaxy (NGC 6946) is a spiral galaxy in which nine supernovae have been observed, more than in any other galaxy.
• The nebula NGC 7538 is home to the largest yet discovered protostar.

Visualizations

Cepheus as depicted in Urania's Mirror, a set of constellation cards published in London c.1825.

The stars of Cepheus form a shape approximately like a box with a triangle on top. When fainter stars visible to the naked eye are included, Cepheus can be interpreted as looking like a king with a crown (upside down with respect to the ecliptic).^{[citation needed]}

Equivalents

In Chinese astronomy, the stars of the constellation Cepheus are found in two areas: the Purple Forbidden enclosure (紫微垣, Zǐ Wēi Yuán) and the Black Tortoise of the North (北方玄武, Běi Fāng Xuán Wǔ).

In popular culture

In the TV comedy 3rd Rock From The Sun, the aliens' home planet is stated to be located in a barred spiral galaxy on the Cepheus-Draco border. The performer Deadmau5 named his song, HR 8938 Cephei after a star in the constellation.

Namesakes

USS Cepheus (AKA-18) and USS Cepheus (AK-265), United States navy ships.

See also

Cepheus (Chinese astronomy)

References

• Ian Ridpath and Wil Tirion (2007). Stars and Planets Guide, Collins, London. ISBN 978-0007251209. Princeton University Press, Princeton. ISBN 978-0691135564.

External links

• The Deep Photographic Guide to the Constellations: Cepheus
• Star Tales – Cepheus
• Cepheus Constellation