Cassiopeia Stars Constellation, Queen of the Night Sky

The Constellation Cassiopeia

Cassiopeia, the queen of the northern night sky, is a prominent constellation that has captivated stargazers for centuries.

Named after the mythical queen from Greek mythology, Cassiopeia is easily recognizable for its distinctive “W” or “M” shape, depending on its position throughout the year.

Let’s embark on a celestial journey and unravel the wonders of this beautiful constellation and the stars that adorn it.

First, lets discover how the Constellation was born.

The Story of Cassiopeia Myth

The history of Cassiopeia mythological figure is directly linked to her constellation.

Cassiopeia, a proud queen, claimed her daughter Andromeda was more beautiful than the Nereids, angering Poseidon, the sea god.

Poseidon sought to punish her kingdom Ethiopia, either by flooding it or sending a sea monster.

To appease the sea gods, an oracle advised sacrificing Andromeda.

Andromeda was chained to a rock at the sea’s edge, awaiting the sea monster’s arrival.

However, Perseus arrived, slayed the monster, and married Andromeda.

Poseidon immortalized Cassiopeia in the heavens, binding her to a throne resembling a torture device.

Depictions of her vary, sometimes showing her holding a mirror or palm frond, symbolizing vanity.

Cassiopeia’s pride had grave consequences for her kingdom.

Through heroism and divine intervention, Andromeda was saved.

Cassiopeia’s celestial punishment serves as a reminder of the dangers of arrogance and vanity.

Thus, Constellation Cassiopeia was born!

How to Find the Stars of Cassiopeia Constellation

Cassiopeia is positioned in the northern celestial hemisphere, visible from latitudes between +90° and -20°. Its distinct “W” or “M” shape makes it easy to find.

Throughout the year, Cassiopeia seems to rotate around Polaris, the North Star, making it an excellent landmark for stargazers and navigator.

To locate the Cassiopeia constellation in the night sky, just follow this easy guide: 

1. Begin by finding the easily recognizable constellation of the Big Dipper, which is part of the larger Ursa Major constellation.
2. Locate the two stars at the end of the Big Dipper’s bowl
3. Draw an imaginary line from these stars, extending away from the bowl
4. You should be able to locate the Polaris Star
5. Continue along this line for roughly the same distance as the distance between the two stars, and you will reach Cassiopeia, with its distinctive “W” or “M” shape.

The shape varies on its orientation in the sky, which is effected by the seasonality of the sky.

It is visible in the northern hemisphere throughout the year and can be found high in the sky during autumn evenings.

The Stars of Cassiopeia Constellation

The Queen of the Sky is composed by five shining stars, α Alpha Cassiopeiae (Schedar), β Beta Cassiopeiae (Caph), γ Gamma Cassiopeiae (Cih), δ Delta Cassiopeiae (Ruchbah) and ε Epsilon Cassipeiae (Segin).

Together, they often are referred as Cassiopeia’s Chair or The Lady in her Chair.

“In charts of the constellations she is represented as a draped figure reclining in a chair and holding up both arms”, the following Pin describes this artistic representation.

Schedar, Alpha Cassiopeiae

Cassiopeia consists of five notable stars that contribute to its celestial beauty.

The brightest star in the constellation is Alpha Cassiopeiae, also known as Schedar, with a magnitude of 2.24 since it is a orange giant of the spectral type K0 IIIa.

With a luminosity over 1,000 times that of the Sun, Schedar stands out as a giant star, approximately 228 light-years away from Earth. Its surface temperature is around 4,500 Kelvin.

In the past, it was a common thought that Schedar had the same brightness as Caph, beta cassiopeiae.

This was related to the fact that they can appear brighter or fainter than the other, in different passbands: to the untrained eye, they could appear equally shiny.

Anyway, Schedar was confirmed to be marginally brighter by NASA’s WISE telescope.

Caph, Beta Cassiopeiae

Beta Cassiopeiae, also known as Caph, is another prominent star in the constellation.

It is a white giant star located around 54 light-years away from our planet.

Caph has a luminosity about 2,400 times greater than that of the Sun, making it a fascinating stellar object to observe.

Its surface temperature is estimated to be around 7,500 Kelvin.

Caph is almost 25 times less brighter than Schedar which has an energy output 676 times that of the Sun.

Comparing the distances, Schedar is about four times more distant than Caph, which shines 54.7 light-years away.

Cih, Gamma Cassiopeiae

Among the intriguing stars of Cassiopeia is Gamma Cassiopeiae, a peculiar variable star.

What makes unique Gamma Cassiopeiae, known as Cih (it has no traditional Arabic or Latin name), is its ability to undergo sudden and dramatic changes in brightness.

This phenomenon is caused by its rapid rotation, which causes the star to eject material into space, forming a surrounding disk.

Gamma Cassiopeiae is a massive blue-white subgiant star located approximately 550 light-years away from Earth.

Its surface temperature is estimated to be around 22,000 Kelvin.

However, the name Cih is derived from “Tsih”, the Asian star name which is meaning “Whip”; it is informally known also known as Navi.

Ruchbah, Delta Cassiopeiae

Delta Cassiopeiaen, or Ruchbah, is an eclipsing binary system with an apparent magnitude of 2.68, making it the fourth brightest star of the constellation.

It is distant 99.4 light-years and has a stellar classification of A5 IV which represents a subgiant white with a temperature of 7.980 K.

The star has already finished the hydrogen in its core so it evolved away from the main sequence;  it has 2.49 times the mass of the sun and 3.90 times its radius.

The star’s name “Ruchbah” comes from the Arabic rukbah, meaning “knee”; it refers to the star’s position in the constellation, marking the knee of the mythical Queen Cassiopeia.

Segin, Epsilon Cassiopeiae

Epsilon Cassiopeiae, commonly known as Segin, is a binary star system located approximately 440 light-years away.

The primary star is a blue-white giant, while its companion is a smaller star.

It is the fifth star in order of magnitude, which is 3.37, making it the faintest one.

Segin has the stellar classification B3 V, indicating that it is still melting hydrogen in its core.

Segin’s striking appearance and its position within the constellation add to the visual allure of Cassiopeia.

The primary star has a surface temperature of about 17,000 Kelvin.

Other Stars and Deep Objects in Cassiopeia

In addition to the notable stars, Cassiopeia is home to various deep-sky objects that fascinate astronomers, like the star cluster Messier 52, the bubble Nebula NGC 7635 and the ghost nebula IC 63.

Star Cluster Messier 52

The open star cluster Messier 52 is a stunning sight, composed of approximately 6,000 stars and located around 5,000 light-years away from Earth.

This cluster showcases a rich assortment of stars, with some appearing in striking colors, ranging from white and yellow to orange and red.

The cluster’s age is estimated to be around 35 million years, making it relatively young in astronomical terms.

Blubble Nebula NGC 7635

The famous Bubble Nebula (NGC 7635) can also be found within Cassiopeia, displaying a bubble-like structure created by the stellar wind from a massive, hot star located at its center.

The intense ultraviolet radiation emitted by this star interacts with the surrounding gas, creating the glowing shell of the nebula.

The Bubble Nebula provides astronomers with valuable insights into the processes of star formation and the interplay between massive stars and their interstellar environment.

Its distance from Earth is estimated to be around 7,100 light-years.

Ghost Nebula IC 63

Moreover, the eerie Ghost Nebula IC 63 adds an ethereal touch to the constellation with its wispy appearance.

This dim reflection nebula is illuminated by the nearby star Gamma Cassiopeiae, causing the surrounding dust and gas to scatter and reflect starlight.

The Ghost Nebula presents an intriguing subject for astrophotography enthusiasts due to its delicate features and faint glow.

It is located at a distance of approximately 550 light-years from Earth.

Supernova Cassiopeia A

One of the most well-known remnants of an exploded star, known as a supernova remnant, resides within Cassiopeia.

Cassiopeia A, or Cas A, is the remnant of a supernova explosion that occurred approximately 11,000 light-years away from Earth.

This celestial spectacle continues to be a subject of scientific study, offering valuable insights into the life cycle of stars.

Cas A provides astronomers with an opportunity to observe the aftermath of a supernova, enabling them to study the processes of nucleosynthesis and the dispersal of heavy elements into the surrounding interstellar medium.

Look at this overlay of several photographs that have taken the object at different wavelengths: gamma rays with their magenta, X-rays of blue and green colors, visible view of yellow, the infrared that is red and the radio, which is orange.

The Significance of Cassiopeia Constellation

Cassiopeia’s mythological roots and distinctive shape have made it a subject of fascination in various cultures throughout history.

In addition to Greek mythology, different civilizations have interpreted the constellation in their own ways.

For instance, in Chinese astronomy, Cassiopeia is known as the “Weaving Maid” and is associated with the tale of the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl, represented by the stars Vega and Altair, respectively.

Cassiopeia not only offers breathtaking sights and captivating stories but also serves as a valuable resource for scientific research.

The stars within the constellation provide crucial information about stellar evolution, from the birth of massive stars to their explosive deaths.

By studying these stars, astronomers gain insights into the processes that shape the cosmos and the elements that make up our universe.

From the mesmerizing glow of Alpha Cassiopeiae to the enigmatic variations of Gamma Cassiopeiae, each star within the constellation holds its own story and scientific significance.

Whether you gaze upon Cassiopeia to appreciate its stellar beauty, explore its deep-sky wonders, or immerse yourself in the stories woven through time, this enchanting queen of the night sky will continue to inspire and captivate stargazers for generations!