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Cassiopeia

File:Cassiopeia_IAU.svg · Wikimedia Commons · See Wikimedia Commons

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Cassiopeia

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Also known as Cas, Cassiopeiae

constellation in the northern celestial hemisphere

AI overview

Cassiopeia is a constellation visible in the night sky of the Northern Hemisphere, named after a figure from Greek mythology. It's one of the recognizable star patterns that has been used for centuries to navigate and understand the positions of stars in the sky.

AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.

Wikidata facts

Instance of
constellation
Named after
Cassiopeia
Official name
Cassiopeia
Area
598
Shares border with
Perseus
Image
CassiopeiaCC.jpg
Show 6 more facts
Commons category
Cassiopeia (constellation)
Commons gallery
Cassiopeia
short name
Cas
on focus list of Wikimedia project
Wikipedia:Vital articles/Level/4
Sources (5)

via Wikidata · CC0

~21 min read

Encyclopedic overview

Cassiopeia (listen) is a constellation and asterism in the northern sky named after the vain queen Cassiopeia, mother of Andromeda, in Greek mythology, who boasted about her unrivaled beauty. Cassiopeia was one of the 48 constellations listed by the 2nd-century Greek astronomer Ptolemy, and it remains one of the 88 modern constellations today. It is easily recognizable due to its distinctive 'W' shape, formed by five bright stars.

Cassiopeia is located in the northern sky and from latitudes above 34°N it is visible year-round. In the (sub)tropics it can be seen at its clearest from September to early November, and at low southern, tropical, latitudes of less than 25°S it can be seen, seasonally, low in the North.

Excerpted from Wikipedia’s “Cassiopeia” article, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.

Gallery (9)