Cassiopeia Constellation
Where is Cassiopeia right now?
Cassiopeia (The Queen)
Cassiopeia is a prominent constellation in the northern sky, easily recognizable by its distinctive "W" or "M" shape, formed by five bright stars. It represents the mythological queen Cassiopeia, known for her legendary beauty and vanity. The constellation is visible year-round in the Northern Hemisphere and is located near the North Star, Polaris.
Key Features
- Bright Stars: The stars that form Cassiopeia's unique shape are:
- Deep-Sky Objects: Cassiopeia is home to several notable astronomical objects:
- Messier 52 (M52): A rich open star cluster located about 5,000 light-years away.
- NGC 281 (Pacman Nebula): A bright emission nebula resembling the video game character Pac-Man.
- Heart and Soul Nebulae: Large emission nebulae located near the border of Cassiopeia and Perseus.
- NGC 7789: An open cluster also known as "Caroline’s Rose," located about 8,000 light-years away.
Mythological Background
In Greek mythology, Cassiopeia was the queen of Ethiopia, wife of King Cepheus, and mother of Andromeda. She was known for her vanity, boasting that her beauty surpassed that of the sea nymphs, the Nereids. This angered Poseidon, the god of the sea, who sent a sea monster to devastate their kingdom. To appease Poseidon, Andromeda was chained to a rock as a sacrifice but was ultimately rescued by Perseus.
As punishment for her arrogance, Cassiopeia was placed in the sky, where she circles the celestial pole. At certain times of the year, she appears upside down, a reminder of her humiliation.
Cultural Significance
Cassiopeia has been a key constellation for navigation due to its proximity to the North Star, Polaris. Its distinctive "W" shape makes it one of the easiest constellations to identify in the night sky. It is often used as a reference point to locate other constellations and deep-sky objects.
The constellation’s mythological associations with beauty, vanity, and redemption have made it a popular subject in art and literature. Its rich field of stars and nebulae also makes it a favorite target for amateur astronomers.
Cassiopeia Rise and Set Timetable
| Time | Elevation | |
| Cassiopeia is always above the horizon | ||
| Sunset | 12:28 | 40° |
| Civil sunset | 12:57 | 44° |
| Twilight start (−12°) | 13:29 | 48° |
| Cassiopeia transit | 17:31 | 71° |
Moonrise, 48.5% illuminated  | 18:52 | 67° |
| Astronomical observing session begins | 19:44 | 62° |
| Cassiopeia is always above the horizon | ||
| Astronomical observing session ends | 01:02 | 23° |
| Civil sunrise | 01:34 | 20° |
| Sunrise | 02:03 | 18° |
| Moonset | 09:13 | 19° |
Track Cassiopeia position throughout the night
← 2 November 2026 →
| Time | |
| Altitude | |
| Azimuth |
Annual motion of Cassiopeia
| Date | Tue, 3 November 2026 |
| Twilight start | 13:56 |
| Twilight end | 00:25 |
| Twilight duration | 10h 29m |
| Rise | Cassiopeia is always up |
| Set | Cassiopeia is always up |
| Elevation at transit | 71° |
| Transit time | 17:27 |
| Equatorial coordinates | RA: 00h 44m 49s", Dec: 59° 07' 01s |
