Andromeda: Constellation

Andromeda,
in astronomy, northern constellation located to the NE of Pegasus and to the S of

Cassiopeia. Its brightest star, Alpheratz (Alpha Andromedae), marks the northeast corner of the Great
Square in Pegasus. The constellation also contains the bright stars Mirach (Beta Andromedae) and
Almach (Gamma Andromedae) and the famous Great Nebula, or Andromeda Galaxy, the only galaxy
visible to the naked eye in the Northern Hemisphere. Andromeda reaches its highest point in the evening
sky in November.
Andromeda
eAries (ârˈēz) [key] [Lat., = the ram], constellation lying on the ecliptic (the sun's apparent path

through the heavens) between Taurus and Pisces; it is one of the constellations of the zodiac. It
contains the bright star Hamal (Alpha Arietis). About 2,000 years ago the vernal equinox was
located at the beginning of Aries and was thus also called the "first point of Aries"; however,
the precession of the equinoxes has since shifted the vernal equinox into Pisces. Aries reaches
its highest point in the evening sky in December.
Cancer
Cancer [Lat., = the crab], in astronomy, constellation lying on the ecliptic (the sun's apparent path

through the heavens) between Gemini and Leo; it is a constellation of the zodiac. It contains the star
cluster Praesepe, but no bright stars. The tropic of Cancer takes its name from this constellation, in
which the summer solstice was located about 2,000 years ago. Now, because of the precession of the
equinoxes, the summer solstice has moved westward into the constellation Gemini. Cancer reaches its
highest point in the evening sky in March.
Crux
Crux (krŏks) [key] [Lat., = cross], small but brilliant southern constellation whose four most prominent
members form a Latin cross, the famous Southern Cross. The long arm of the cross, terminating in the
brightest member, Acrux (Alpha Crucis), points almost directly at the south celestial pole. Two other
stars, Mimosa (Beta Crucis) and Gacrux (Gamma Crucis) are also among the brightest in the sky. Also in
Crux is the Coalsack, a famous dark nebula. Crux reaches its highest point in the evening sky in May; its
location in the far southern sky makes it visible most of the year to southern observers but not at all to
observers north of about 25°N lat.
CygnusCygnus (sĭgˈnəs) [key] [Lat., = the swan], northern constellation located SE of
Draco and NW of Pegasus. It was depicted as a bird by most ancient cultures. It is sometimes
called the Northern Cross because five of its brightest stars form a huge Latin cross. Its most
famous star is Deneb, at the head of the cross, forming a large triangle with Vega in Lyra and
Altair in Aquila. Cygnus reaches its highest point in the evening sky in September.
Cassiopeia
Cassiopeia, in astronomy, prominent northern constellation located almost directly opposite the Big
Dipper across the north celestial pole. Five bright stars in the constellation form a rough W (or M ) in the
sky. Some see in this formation the shape of a chair known as Cassiopeia's Chair. Tycho's Star,
a supernova, appeared in the constellation in 1572 and disappeared in 1574. In this constellation is
located Cassiopeia A, a discrete radio source emitting 21-cm radiation with great intensity. Cassiopeia
reaches its highest point in the evening sky in November, but because of its location near the pole it is
visible throughout the year to most northern observers.
Centaurus (sĕntôrˈəs) [key], southern constellation located N and E of Crux, the Southern Cross.
It is known especially for its bright stars Alpha Centauri and Hadar. It also contains Centaurus A, a
radio galaxy, as well as a globular star cluster visible to the naked eye. Centaurus reaches its
highest point in the evening sky in May.
Leo
Leo [Lat., = the lion], northern constellation lying S of Ursa Major and on the ecliptic(apparent path of the
sun through the heavens) between Cancer and Virgo; it is one of the constellations of the zodiac. The
Egyptians, Babylonians, Arabs, and Greeks all represented this constellation as a lion; it may be the first
constellation to be pictorially represented. The most famous star in Leo is Regulus (Alpha Leonis). The
western part of the constellation is a curved line known as the Sickle; it represents the lion's head. The
main constellation terminates in Denebola (Beta Leonis), the Lion's Tail. The meteor showers known as
the Leonids appear to come from this constellation. Leo reaches its highest point in the evening sky in
April.
Gemini
Gemini (jĕmˈənĪ, –nē) [key] [Lat., = the twins], northern constellation lying on the ecliptic (the sun's
apparent path through the heavens) between Taurus and Cancer, N of Canis Minor; it is one of the
constellations of the zodiac. Gemini is traditionally depicted as two men. The two brightest stars in
Gemini, Castor and Pollux (north of the bright star Procyon in Canis Minor), are two of the brightest stars
in the sky and were identified by the Greeks with two children, in most accounts the twin sons of Zeus
and Leda. The Egyptians identified the two stars with a pair of young goats. An annual meteor
shower known as the Geminids appears to radiate from this constellation during the second week in
December. Owing to the precession of the equinoxes, the summer solstice now lies in Gemini, rather
than in Cancer as it did 2,000 years ago. Gemini reaches its highest point in the evening sky in February.
Perseus
Perseus, in astronomy, northern constellation lying E of Cassiopeia and N of Taurus. It contains the
bright star Mirfak (Alpha Persei) and Algol (Beta Persei), a visible variable star of the type known as an
eclipsing variable. Perseus contains two star clusters(NGC 869 and NGC 884) that are visible to the
naked eye, as well as an open cluster (M34) that is barely visible. A meteor shower known as the
Perseids appears to radiate from a star in Perseus; this shower can be seen every year for several nights
beginning Aug. 10, after midnight. In 1901 a brilliant nova was observed in the constellation. Perseus
reaches its highest point in the evening sky in late December.

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Andromeda,

in astronomy, northern constellation located to the NE of Pegasus and to the S of

eAries (ârˈēz) [key] [Lat., = the ram], constellation lying on the ecliptic (the sun's apparent path

Cancer [Lat., = the crab], in astronomy, constellation lying on the ecliptic (the sun's apparent path

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