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Cepheus constellation

Cepheus is a constellation of the northern sky. Its brightest star is Alderamin. Visibility at mid-northern latitudes (52° N): never sets — visible all year round.

  • Alwaysnever sets at 52° N
  • Alderaminbrightest star, magnitude 2.5
  • CepCepheus
Show on the sky map
The constellation Cepheus in the starry sky: its figure and its bright stars Caph, Cassiopeia — magnitude 2.3. Open on the sky mapAlderamin, Cepheus — magnitude 2.5. Open on the sky mapAlderaminErrai, Cepheus — magnitude 3.2. Open on the sky mapErraiAlfirk, Cepheus — magnitude 3.2. Open on the sky mapAlfirkζ Cephei — magnitude 3.4. Open on the sky mapKabalfird, Cepheus — magnitude 3.4. Open on the sky mapKabalfirdι Cephei — magnitude 3.5. Open on the sky mapδ Cephei — magnitude 4.1. Open on the sky mapε Cephei — magnitude 4.2. Open on the sky mapAl Kidr, Cepheus — magnitude 4.2. Open on the sky mapThe Garnet Star, Cepheus — magnitude 4.2. Open on the sky mapCastula, Cepheus — magnitude 4.3. Open on the sky mapKurhah, Cepheus — magnitude 4.3. Open on the sky mapAl Aghnam, Cepheus — magnitude 4.4. Open on the sky mapπ Cephei — magnitude 4.4. Open on the sky mapυ¹ Cephei — magnitude 4.5. Open on the sky map11 Cephei — magnitude 4.5. Open on the sky map N ↑← E
North is up, east is left — this is how the constellation looks in the sky. Click a star to open it on the sky map.

How to find the constellation Cepheus

Five stars that look like a house with a pointed roof. It lies between Cassiopeia and Polaris, with the roof pointing towards Polaris.

Visible all year round; it is highest in the evening, around 22:00, in September, and half a year later at that time it is lowest, above the northern horizon.

LocationVisibility
40° NMadrid, New York, Beijingnever sets — visible all year round
52° NLondon, Berlin, Warsawnever sets — visible all year round
60° NOslo, Helsinki, Saint Petersburgnever sets — visible all year round

Bright stars of the constellation

StarMagnitudeColorDistance
Alderaminα Cephei 2.5white—
Erraiγ Cephei 3.2orange—
Alfirkβ Cephei 3.2blue—
ζ Cephei 3.4orange—
Kabalfirdη Cephei 3.4orange—
ι Cephei 3.5orange—
δ Cephei 4.1yellow—
ε Cephei 4.2white—
Al Kidrθ Cephei 4.2white—
The Garnet Starμ Cephei 4.2red—
2 Ursae Minoris 4.2orange—
Castulaν Cephei 4.3white—

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 Cepheus in the sky?

Five stars that look like a house with a pointed roof. It lies between Cassiopeia and Polaris, with the roof pointing towards Polaris.

When is the best time of year to observe the constellation Cepheus?

At mid-northern latitudes (52° N) Cepheus never sets and can be seen on any clear night. It is highest in the evening in autumn, in September.

What is the brightest star in the constellation Cepheus?

Alderamin: magnitude 2.5, white.

How many stars are there in the constellation Cepheus?

With the naked eye on a perfectly dark night — with no light pollution and no Moon — you can see about 95 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.

Autumn constellations

Find it in the sky tonightA sky map over your city: where the constellation Cepheus is now and when it will rise.
Open the sky map