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Perseus constellation

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

  • Alwaysnever sets at 52° N
  • Mirfakbrightest star, magnitude 1.8
  • PerPerseus
Show on the sky map
The constellation Perseus in the starry sky: its figure and its bright stars Mirfak, Perseus — magnitude 1.8. Open on the sky mapMirfakAlgol, Perseus — magnitude 2.1. Open on the sky mapAlgolAlmach, Andromeda — magnitude 2.1. Open on the sky mapAtik, Perseus — magnitude 2.8. Open on the sky mapAtikε Persei — magnitude 2.9. Open on the sky mapγ Persei — magnitude 2.9. Open on the sky mapδ Persei — magnitude 3.0. Open on the sky mapGorgonea Tertia, Perseus — magnitude 3.3. Open on the sky mapGorgonea TertiaMiram, Perseus — magnitude 3.8. Open on the sky mapν Persei — magnitude 3.8. Open on the sky mapMisam, Perseus — magnitude 3.8. Open on the sky mapAtik, Perseus — magnitude 3.8. Open on the sky mapτ Persei — magnitude 3.9. Open on the sky mapc Persei — magnitude 4.0. Open on the sky mapMenkib, Perseus — magnitude 4.0. Open on the sky mapφ Persei — magnitude 4.0. Open on the sky mapι Persei — magnitude 4.0. Open on the sky mapθ Persei — magnitude 4.1. Open on the sky mapμ Persei — magnitude 4.1. Open on the sky map16 Persei — magnitude 4.2. Open on the sky mapλ Persei — magnitude 4.3. Open on the sky mape Persei — magnitude 4.3. Open on the sky mapψ Persei — magnitude 4.3. Open on the sky mapσ Persei — magnitude 4.4. Open on the sky map17 Persei — magnitude 4.6. 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 Perseus

A chain of stars between Cassiopeia and the Pleiades. Perseus contains Algol, a star that fades noticeably for a few hours every 2 days 21 hours.

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

LocationVisibility
40° NMadrid, New York, Beijingrises and sets, fully visible
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
Mirfakα Persei 1.8white—
Algolβ Persei 2.1bluish whiteabout 90 light years
Atikζ Persei 2.8white—
ε Persei 2.9blue—
γ Persei 2.9yellow—
δ Persei 3.0blue—
Gorgonea Tertiaρ Persei 3.3orange—
Miramη Persei 3.8red—
ν Persei 3.8white—
Misamκ Persei 3.8orange—
Atikο Persei 3.8bluish white—
τ Persei 3.9yellow—

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 Perseus in the sky?

A chain of stars between Cassiopeia and the Pleiades. Perseus contains Algol, a star that fades noticeably for a few hours every 2 days 21 hours.

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

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

What is the brightest star in the constellation Perseus?

Mirfak: magnitude 1.8, white.

How many stars are there in the constellation Perseus?

With the naked eye on a perfectly dark night — with no light pollution and no Moon — you can see about 99 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.

Winter constellations

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