Cassiopeia constellation
Cassiopeia is a constellation of the northern sky. Its brightest star is Navi. Visibility at mid-northern latitudes (52° N): never sets — visible all year round.
- Alwaysnever sets at 52° N
- Navibrightest star, magnitude 2.1
- CasCassiopeia
How to find the constellation Cassiopeia
Five stars in the shape of a W (or an M, depending on how it is turned). Cassiopeia lies on the other side of Polaris from the Big Dipper, and from mid-northern latitudes it never sets.
Visible all year round; it is highest in the evening, around 22:00, in November, and half a year later at that time it is lowest, above the northern horizon.
| Location | Visibility |
|---|---|
| 40° NMadrid, New York, Beijing | never sets — visible all year round |
| 52° NLondon, Berlin, Warsaw | never sets — visible all year round |
| 60° NOslo, Helsinki, Saint Petersburg | never sets — visible all year round |
Bright stars of the constellation
| Star | Magnitude | Color | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Naviγ Cassiopeiae | 2.1 | bluish white | — |
| Shedarα Cassiopeiae | 2.2 | orange | about 228 light years |
| Caphβ Cassiopeiae | 2.3 | white | about 55 light years |
| Ruchbahδ Cassiopeiae | 2.7 | bluish white | — |
| Seginε Cassiopeiae | 3.4 | blue | — |
| Achirdη Cassiopeiae | 3.5 | yellow | — |
| Fuluζ Cassiopeiae | 3.7 | blue | — |
| 50 Cassiopeiae | 4.0 | bluish white | — |
| κ Cassiopeiae | 4.2 | bluish white | — |
| Marfakθ Cassiopeiae | 4.3 | bluish white | — |
| ι Cassiopeiae | 4.5 | bluish white | — |
| ο Cassiopeiae | 4.5 | bluish white | — |
Magnitude is a measure of a star’s brightness: the smaller the number, the brighter the star; on a dark night the naked eye can see stars down to magnitude 6.
Questions
How do you find the constellation Cassiopeia in the sky?
Five stars in the shape of a W (or an M, depending on how it is turned). Cassiopeia lies on the other side of Polaris from the Big Dipper, and from mid-northern latitudes it never sets.
When is the best time of year to observe the constellation Cassiopeia?
At mid-northern latitudes (52° N) Cassiopeia never sets and can be seen on any clear night. It is highest in the evening in autumn, in November.
What is the brightest star in the constellation Cassiopeia?
Navi: magnitude 2.1, bluish white.
How many stars are there in the constellation Cassiopeia?
With the naked eye on a perfectly dark night — with no light pollution and no Moon — you can see about 93 stars in the constellation (brighter than magnitude 6, within the constellation’s boundaries). In a city far fewer: usually only the stars of its figure.