Perseus constellation
Perseus (the Hero Perseus) is a constellation in the northern sky, best seen in the evening in December. Its brightest star is Mirfak (magnitude 1.79). Perseus covers 615 square degrees and is the 24th-largest of the 88 constellations.
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Detailed star map of Perseus
Facts
| Latin name | Perseus (genitive: Persei) |
|---|---|
| Abbreviation | Per |
| Meaning | the Hero Perseus |
| Area | 615 square degrees (24th of 88) |
| Location | right ascension 3.3 h, declination +46° |
| Visible from | latitudes 90° N to 31° S (whole constellation) |
| Best month | December (at about 9 pm) |
| Brightest star | Mirfak |
| Stars brighter than magnitude 6 | 98 |
| Named stars (IAU) | 6 |
| Messier objects | M34, M76 |
| Neighbors | Andromeda, Aries, Auriga, Camelopardalis, Cassiopeia, Taurus, Triangulum |
How to find Perseus
From 40° N (the USA, southern Europe, Japan) look north in December evenings: at about 9 pm Perseus stands highest, around 84° above the northern horizon. From 35° S (Australia, South Africa, Argentina) it is highest in the north, about 9° above the horizon. The months before and after (November and January) are also good: then it is up a couple of hours earlier or later.
Perseus borders Andromeda, Aries, Auriga, Camelopardalis, Cassiopeia, Taurus and Triangulum.
Stars of Perseus
Perseus has 98 stars brighter than magnitude 6, the limit of the naked eye under a dark sky. These are the brightest:
| Star | Designation | Magnitude | Type | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mirfak | α Persei | 1.79 | F5Ib | 590 ly |
| Algol | β Persei | 2.12 | B8V | 93 ly |
| — | ζ Persei | 2.85 | B1Ib | — |
| — | ε Persei | 2.89 | B0.5V+A2V | — |
| — | γ Persei | 2.93 | G8III+A2V | — |
| — | δ Persei | 3.01 | B5IIIe | — |
| — | ρ Persei | 3.39 | M4II | — |
| Miram | η Persei | 3.76 | K3-Ib-IIa | 775 ly |
| — | ν Persei | 3.77 | F5II | — |
| Misam | κ Persei | 3.8 | K0III | 114 ly |
| Atik | ο Persei | 3.83 | B1III | 1,210 ly |
| — | τ Persei | 3.95 | G4III+A4V | — |
Deep-sky objects in Perseus
Perseus contains 2 objects from Charles Messier's catalog:
- Messier 34 (M34): open cluster, 5.2 mag
- Little Dumbbell Nebula (M76): planetary nebula, 10.1 mag
Printable Perseus map and outline
A black and white version for printing and a plain outline of the Perseus figure, useful for school projects, worksheets and learning to recognize the shape.
History
Perseus is one of the 48 constellations listed by Ptolemy in the Almagest (2nd century AD). Its official boundary was drawn by Eugène Delporte for the International Astronomical Union in 1930.
Questions about Perseus
What is the brightest star in Perseus?
Mirfak, at magnitude 1.79, about 590 light-years away.
When can you see Perseus?
Perseus is best seen in the evening in December. The whole constellation is visible from latitudes between 90° N and 31° S.
How many stars are in Perseus?
98 stars in Perseus are brighter than magnitude 6 and can be seen with the naked eye under a dark sky; 6 of them have official IAU names.
What does Perseus mean?
Perseus means “the Hero Perseus” in Latin. Its abbreviation is Per and the genitive, used in star names such as α Persei, is Persei.
