Cassiopeia

(kass-ee-oh-PEE-yah)

Queen of Ethiopia, or The Lady in the Chair

 

Cassiopeia,  Queen of ancient Ethiopia, is one of the constellations that tell the story of the Chained Princess, Andromeda, constellations that dominate the autumn and winter skies. 

 

Visibility at 8 PM (9 Daylight Saving):  A circumpolar constellation, Cassiopeia is above the northern horizon all year long, though she may be hiding behind the trees when she is lowest in July.  She is highest in February.

 

What to look for:  Most people learn this constellation by "connecting the dots" to form the letter W or M.  From left to right along the W, the stars are Segin (Epsilon Cassiopeiae), Rucbah (Delta Cas.) Gamma Cas., Shedir (Alpha Cas.), and Caph (Beta Cas.)   The last three stars qualify as "bright," ranging from magnitude 2.48 to 2.23.  Magnitude 2.84 Rucbah just misses second magnitude, and Segin is slightly fainter.  Achird (Eta Cas.) and Kappa Cas. are still fainter.  

 

 

 

Cassiopeia

Stars connected to form letter W or M

 

In older maps, the Queen is shown with her feet toward Segin, her head at Shedir, and a mirror in one hand at Caph.  You can also connect the dots differently, using the faint star Kappa Cas. to show her throne, and many newer maps show her sitting upright in that chair, her head at Segin.

 

 

Cassiopeia

Stars connected to form chair

 

 

The Queen is surrounded by members of her family.  Her daughter Andromeda, the Chained Princess, is to the south .  Her husband, King Cepheus, is to the north.  Her heroic son-in-law, Perseus, is to the southwest.

 

 

 

Cassiopeia and the Royal Family of Ethiopia

 

Mythology:  Cassiopeia was the beautiful Queen of Ethiopia whose boasts that she was even more beautiful than the Sea Nymphs so outraged the nymphs that they demanded Poseidon (Neptune), God of the Sea, punish her for her vanity, thus setting off the chain of events that nearly cost the life of her daughter, Andromeda.

 

While Cassiopeia learned her lesson, the gods placed her image seated precariously on a tumbling throne that forever circles the Celestial Pole. a warning of the dangers of vanity.

 

A closer look:  Queen Cassiopeia is one of only three women among the classical constellations, the others being her daughter, the Princess Andromeda, and Virgo, the Maiden of the Harvest. 

 

By contrast, there are 10 men represented:  Cassiopeia's husband, King Cepheus; her son-in-law, the Hero Pereus; her great-great grandson, the mighty Hercules, Aquarius, the Water Carrier; Auriga, the Charioteer; Orion, the Hunter; the Gemini Twins, Castor and Pollux; Ophiuchus, the Serpent Bearer; and Boötes, the Herdsman.