#Stars in cassiopeia constellation how to#

Let's check both out, starting with the 'Big W' in the sky. So, in our current early autumn sky, the Whirling Queen rides high, while the Dipper dips down low. In contrast, Cassiopeia soars some three-quarters up from the northern horizon to the point directly overhead (the zenith). So, for New Yorkers the Big Dipper is circumpolar.Īt this particular time of the year, the Dipper and its associated constellation of the Great Bear is at its nadir - that is, its lowest point in the sky during the late-evening hours (9 to 11 p.m.). Read more.īottom line: Spot the constellation Cassiopeia the Queen somewhere in the northern sky during much of the year, and throughout much of the night.But for New York City, located 80 miles (130 km) to the northeast, Alkaid appears to barely skim the horizon but never drops below it. The official borders of the constellation Cassiopeia (and all 88 constellations) were drawn up by the International Astronomers Union in the 1930’s.

Only Cassiopeia suffered an indignity – her vanity caused her to be bound to a chair and placed in the heavens so that, as she revolves around the north celestial pole, she is sometimes in an upside-down position.

The gods were so pleased, that all of these characters were elevated to the heavens as stars. Perseus rescued the Princess, and all lived happily.

Cetus was about to devour her when Perseus the Hero looked down upon her from Pegasus, the Flying Horse. To pacify the monster, Cassiopeia’s daughter, Princess Andromeda, was left tied to a rock by the sea. Her boast angered Poseidon, god of the sea, who sent a sea monster, Cetus, to ravage the kingdom. According to legend, she boasted she was more beautiful than the sea nymphs called the Nereids. In the 1930s, the International Astronomical Union gave this constellation the official name of Cassiopeia the Queen.Ĭassiopeia was a queen in ancient Greek mythology. Upside-down Cassiopeia via Johannes Hevelius.Ĭassiopeia used to be known among astronomers and skywatchers alike as Cassiopeia’s Chair. Upside-down Cassiopeia on Mercator globe. That means they’re always above the horizon at any time of night, all year round. Like the Big Dipper, Cassiopeia can be seen even on moonlit nights.īonus for you if you live north of about 40 degrees north latitude, about the latitude of New York City! From that latitude and farther north, the Big Dipper and Cassiopeia are both circumpolar. It’s small and compact and looks like the letter M or W, depending on the time of night and time of year. That’s because Cassiopeia is very easy to pick out. Here it is on an October evening, relative to Polaris, the North Star.īut you won’t need these details to find this constellation. You can find Cassiopeia somewhere in the north for much of the year, and much of the night. The 2020 lunar calendars are here! Order yours before they’re gone. Because the Big Dipper’s handle and Cassiopeia shine on opposite sides of Polaris, an imaginary line from any star on the Big Dipper handle through Polaris reliably points to Cassiopeia.

#Stars in cassiopeia constellation how to#

Some of you know how to star-hop to Polaris, the North Star, by using the Big Dipper’s pointer stars, as displayed on the sky chart below. As Cassiopeia rises upward, the Big Dipper plunges downward, and vice versa. They’re part of a great spinning wheel of stars seen moving counterclockwise around Polaris, the North Star, once each day. These two star formations are like riders on opposite side of a Ferris wheel. At any time of year, you can use the Big Dipper to find Cassiopeia. The constellation Cassiopeia the Queen can be found high in the northeast on October evenings, not far from Polaris, the North Star.