Astronomy Notes – Unit 3f – Fall Constellations
q (1)
Cepheus
o Also called the _______________.
o Alderamin (magnitude 2.4) is the brightest star in Cepheus
o Delta Cephei – variable star first noted in 1784
§ changes magnitude from 3.6 to 4.3 every 5 days, 8 hours and
48 min.
q (2) Cassiopeia
o Also called the _______________.
o She bragged to the gods about how beautiful her daughter was.
o Circumpolar
constellation, opposite across Polaris from the Big Dipper.
q (3) Cetus
o Also called the _______________ (or Sea Monster).
o Sent by Poseidon, god of the sea, to punish Cassiopeia’s family.
q (4) Andromeda
o Daughter of Cepheus and Cassiopeia, chained as a sacrifice to Cetus.
o M31 – Andromeda Galaxy
§
most distant object visible to the naked eye
(2.2 million light years)
q (5) Perseus
o Son of Zeus, defeated Medusa, rescued Andromeda.
o Algol – eclipsing variable red binary star
§ Medusa’s “winking” eye!
o Double cluster NGC 869 and NGC 884.
q (6) Pegasus
o Also called the __________________ _______________.
§ Created
by Poseidon from sea foam and the blood of his love Medusa.
o the
§ largest geometrical shape in the sky
o M15 – the Pegasus Cluster (near the horse’s nose)
q (7) The Milky Way Galaxy