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Cetus constellation

Cetus is a constellation near the celestial equator. Its brightest star is Diphda. Visibility at mid-northern latitudes (52° N): rises and sets, fully visible.

  • Autumnbest seen
  • Diphdabrightest star, magnitude 2.0
  • CetCetus
Show on the sky map
The constellation Cetus in the starry sky: its figure and its bright stars Diphda, Cetus — magnitude 2.0. Open on the sky mapDiphdaMenkar, Cetus — magnitude 2.5. Open on the sky mapMenkarDheneb, Cetus — magnitude 3.5. Open on the sky mapDhenebKaffaljidhma, Cetus — magnitude 3.5. Open on the sky mapKaffaljidhmaτ Ceti — magnitude 3.5. Open on the sky mapDeneb Kaitos Shemali, Cetus — magnitude 3.6. Open on the sky mapDeneb Kaitos ShemaliAl Naymat, Cetus — magnitude 3.6. Open on the sky mapBaten Kaitos, Cetus — magnitude 3.7. Open on the sky mapυ Ceti — magnitude 4.0. Open on the sky mapδ Ceti — magnitude 4.1. Open on the sky mapπ Ceti — magnitude 4.2. Open on the sky mapμ Ceti — magnitude 4.3. Open on the sky mapξ² Ceti — magnitude 4.3. Open on the sky mapAl Kaff al Jidhmah, Cetus — magnitude 4.4. Open on the sky map7 Ceti — magnitude 4.4. Open on the sky map2 Ceti — 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 Cetus

A large constellation below Pisces and Aries. It contains Mira, a variable star that over about 11 months becomes visible to the naked eye and then disappears from view.

Best seen in autumn: in November around 22:00 it is highest above the southern horizon — the center of the figure rises to about 35°.

LocationVisibility
40° NMadrid, New York, Beijingrises and sets, fully visible
52° NLondon, Berlin, Warsawrises and sets, fully visible
60° NOslo, Helsinki, Saint Petersburgrises and sets, fully visible

Bright stars of the constellation

StarMagnitudeColorDistance
Diphdaβ Ceti 2.0orange—
Menkarα Ceti 2.5red—
Dhenebη Ceti 3.5orange—
Kaffaljidhmaγ Ceti 3.5bluish white—
τ Ceti 3.5yellow—
Deneb Kaitos Shemaliι Ceti 3.6orange—
Al Naymatθ Ceti 3.6orange—
Baten Kaitosζ Ceti 3.7orange—
υ Ceti 4.0orange—
δ Ceti 4.1blue—
π Ceti 4.2blue—
μ Ceti 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 Cetus in the sky?

A large constellation below Pisces and Aries. It contains Mira, a variable star that over about 11 months becomes visible to the naked eye and then disappears from view.

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

In autumn: in November around 22:00 the constellation is highest above the horizon. Two or three months earlier it can be seen before dawn, two or three months later only in the early evening, and half a year later it is in the sky during the day, near the Sun, and can’t be seen.

What is the brightest star in the constellation Cetus?

Diphda: magnitude 2.0, orange.

How many stars are there in the constellation Cetus?

With the naked eye on a perfectly dark night — with no light pollution and no Moon — you can see about 110 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 Cetus is now and when it will rise.
Open the sky map