The constellation Cassiopeia report for grade 2, summarized in this article, will tell you about the constellation located in the northern hemisphere.

The story of the constellation Cassiopeia

This constellation was first mapped in the 2nd century by an astronomer. He was named after the queen of the mythical kingdom of Ethiopia. In the Middle Hemisphere at mid-latitudes, Cassiopeia can be observed all year round, with especially clear visibility from autumn to the end of winter.

History of the constellation Cassiopeia

The legend of its creation goes back to Ancient Greece. Queen Cassiopeia once greatly offended the sea nymphs - Nereids, showing off her beauty to them. For vanity in relation to the nymphs, the god of the seas Poseidon turned her into a constellation. And even more: he put the queen in a basket and "sentenced" to eternal rotation around the pole, and at a certain period of time Cassiopeia's basket turns upside down. Then the queen, seized with horror, began to have a severe headache. This is how Poseidon punished the vain woman.

The astronomer Claudius Ptolemy took pity on Cassiopeia and in his atlas he turned the basket into a royal throne. Since then, the queen has been easy to see in the sky - her 5 bright stars resemble the Latin letter "W".

The brightest celestial objects in the constellation Cassiopeia

• Beta or Kaf is a yellow-white giant, which is 2 times larger than the Sun and 28 times brighter than it.
• Alpha or Shedar is an orange giant.
• Gamma or Whip is the central star of the constellation. It spins fast enough to contribute to mass loss.
• Delta or Elbow is a double star.
• Epsilon is a blue-white giant.
• Rho and V509 are the brightest visible stars in Cassiopeia that can be seen without a telescope.
• Tycho's Star is a supernova that was discovered in 1572. This is the largest source of radio emission observed outside the solar system.
• IC 10 is an irregular galaxy discovered in 1887 by Lewis Swift. It is the only star-forming galaxy in our system.

We hope that the story about the constellation Cassiopeia for children helped you prepare for the lesson. And you can supplement the message about the constellation Cassiopeia through the comment form below.

The night sky is filled with countless stars. They are grouped into various constellations. Many of them cannot be seen in the sky with the naked eye, but they are known to us thanks to astrology. Others can be seen in various places on the planet. So, the constellation of Orion shines brightly at night over the European part of the Eurasia continent.

Myths and legends

Orion is a constellation with which many stories, myths and legends are associated. Each nation interpreted the appearance of this constellation in the sky in its own way, therefore the names in all parts of the world where it could be seen were different. The Greeks associated it with the gods, in Egypt this constellation was called the King of the Stars, in Armenia it is named after the great man - the patriarch-ancestor of the Armenians Hayk. Many peoples did not connect all the stars of Orion into one scheme, but only called his belt as Three Sisters, Three Women, Three Men, Three Plows and so on.

But not only in ancient times, different stories were associated with this constellation. Many modern people expect the arrival of extraterrestrial civilizations from the Orion belt. This is due, in particular, to the fact that some of its stars surpass the Sun itself in size and luminosity. Look at the constellation Orion. Photos from different angles can be seen in this article. Perhaps you will get the impression that somewhere there are other civilizations.

ancient greek myth

According to the myths and legends of Ancient Greece, Orion was the son of the god of the seas and oceans, Poseidon, and one of the Gorgon sisters, whose name was Euryale. When he grew up, he went to travel and in one of the cities he saw and fell in love with the beautiful princess Merope, the daughter of King Oinopion. Orion went to the king and began to ask for the hand of his beautiful daughter. But, despite the external beauty and glory of the great hunter, he was refused. The king did not want to part with his beloved daughter. Orion decided to take the princess by force, but, having learned about this, Oinopion grabbed and blinded the beautiful young man, after which he threw him onto the seashore.

With the help of an oracle that told Orion how to become healthy again, the young man received his sight. He wanted to take revenge on the king for what he had done and went in search of him. But during his travels he met the beautiful Artemis and fell in love with her. The goddess of hunting answered him in return. And everything would be fine, only Orion liked to brag about the fact that he was the best hunter and nowhere to meet such a master in this matter.

The goddess Hera, the wife of Zeus, took a dislike to the beautiful young man and sent the scorpion to kill Orion with her poisonous bite. Artemis grieved for a long time, and then sent her lover to heaven. Since then, Orion has been a constellation that delighted the goddess with its beauty every night. In response, Hera placed the constellation Scorpio on the opposite side of the sky. And these two constellations never rise at the same time.

Legend of the Pleiades

Once upon a time, seven sisters lived in heaven, who loved to play and have fun. Once, carried away by one of their pastimes, they sank too close to the ground and could not return home. The sisters were sad, they missed the heavenly heights. And they began to figure out how to get back. They approached the tree and asked for help. They told how they yearn for their home, how happy they are and how they shine there. The tree took pity and began to grow until the top rested against the sky.

There were seven young men left on earth who passionately fell in love with the heavenly girls. They yearned for their beloved and constantly looked at the heavens. The tree took pity on them and raised the young men to heaven, where they turned into the constellation of Orion. Since then, seven beautiful girls and their boys have been inseparable. And every clear night, raising your eyes to the starry sky, you can see the constellation Orion near the Pleiades.

Pyramids of Egypt

Orion is a constellation that is considered a landmark for the construction of the Egyptian pyramids of Giza. It is hard not to find similarities between these three largest architectural structures in Egypt and the stars in Orion's belt. Continuing to consider the celestial bodies that are part of this constellation, one can find other similarities with the famous Egyptian architectural complex. Temples, small pyramids and other significant buildings are located at the same distance from the pyramids as the rest of the stars of Orion from the belt.

A large number of coincidences makes it clear that the skill of the civilization that created such buildings was in many ways superior to modern technology. Focusing on the constellation Orion, the scheme of which was already created by astronomers at that time, the ancient Egyptians erected structures exactly according to the location of celestial bodies, as if projecting them onto the earth.

Orion Stars

The bright multi-colored stars of the constellation Orion create a beautiful pattern in the sky. Each of them has its own name, size and meaning.

The alpha of this constellation is Betelgeuse, which shines orange-red. Her name in translation means "shoulder (hand) of a giant." This star is considered incorrect, as it shines variable and periodically pulsates. The mass of Betelgeuse is 15 times the mass of the Sun, and its diameter is about 700 times that of the Sun.

The beta of this constellation is Rigel, which in Arabic means "giant's foot". The brightest and largest star, its luminosity is 130,000 times greater than that of the sun. It has a pale blue color and is also variable. The ancient Egyptians considered this star to be the god Osiris.

The star Belatrix has a diameter 3 times larger than the Sun. It is blue in color and ranks 27th in brightness.

And the last of the brightest stars has the name Saif.

Orion's belt

Three stars form Orion's belt. They are called Alnitak, Alnilam and Mintaka. Many nations considered these three stars to be the main ones and assigned them various legends and names.

Mintaka are four luminous objects located in space in such a way that from the Earth they seem to be a single whole.

The next star of the belt is Alnilam. From Arabic, this name is translated as "string of pearls." Being a supergiant and being 2 times farther from the Sun than other stars, it shines as brightly as the rest of the celestial bodies in the galaxy.

Alnitak also consists of several luminous celestial bodies, which look like one from the Earth.

Orion Nebula

The nebula can be observed where the stars of the constellation Orion form the "sword" of a warrior or hunter. Due to the fact that ionized plasma emits light and forms a cloud, it is visible from Earth very brightly. Its size is approximately 33 light years. The shape of the nebula is arcuate, and the center, due to the characteristic arrangement of stars, is called the Trapezium.

This unique spectacle can be observed in winter, as it is not difficult to find the constellation Orion at this time. The nebula can be seen with the naked eye. But if there is a telescope at hand, then there will be much more impressions and pleasant emotions.

constellation location

The constellation Orion is located on the celestial sphere in the northern hemisphere. In its brightness and beauty, it is second only to the Big Dipper. In order to easily determine where the constellation of Orion is located, it is necessary to look at the sky in the autumn or winter months. It was during this period that it can be clearly seen on the southern side of the sky.

One can easily find many astrological signs by looking at the starry sky. The constellation Orion is often used as a guide when looking for the constellations Gemini and Taurus. But that's not all. In the constellation itself, on a clear night, you can easily see up to 100 stars.

neighboring constellations

Having determined where the constellation of Orion is located, at its extreme points you can find Canis Major and Minor, Unicorn, Hare, Leo, as well as such zodiac signs as Gemini and Taurus.

The constellation Gemini lies to the north of Orion and lies between the stars Leo and Taurus. Big and Small Dogs are, as it were, behind the hunter. If you draw an image of a person using the outline created by the stars, then the hare is at the feet. Since it is very easy to find the constellation of Orion in a clear sky, looking closely and using it as a guide, you can easily find other clusters of celestial bodies.

Constellation Orion in the modern world

The constellation of Orion, a photo of which can be seen in the planetarium, various books and textbooks, is often depicted in paintings and frescoes. Many creative people, fascinated by its secrets and legends, are inspired to create some kind of masterpiece. Artists Don Peterson, Jeremy Bergland, Chad Ingle and Erich Remash are no exception. They created an installation they called Starlight. It consists of the seven main stars of Orion and is located so that when looking at it from a bird's eye view, it seems that you are looking at the sky.

This piece of art was featured at the annual art show called Burning Man. It is located in the Black Rock Desert, Nevada.

Orion is a mysterious constellation and all the more attractive because it can always be found in the sky. For beginner astronomers, there is no better reference than this cluster of celestial bodies. But before you switch to other objects, you should carefully study this constellation and the stories and legends associated with it, plunge into the world of mysteries and discover the endless stream of information associated with the ancient hunter.

starry sky

Even in ancient times, people began to study the mysterious and beautiful starry sky. They saw groups of stars on it, which they called constellations. Constellations reminded people of various objects, animals, mythical heroes, for which they got their names.

These drawings from an old star atlas depict the constellations that you met in the lesson. Determine and use the textbook to sign their names.

Using the textbook drawings, connect the dots so that you get diagrams of the constellations Cassiopeia, Cygnus, Orion.

If the stars were visible during the day, then we would notice that the Sun is "visiting" different constellations throughout the year. For each constellation, the sun "stays" for about one month.

Zodiac- This is the belt of constellations along which the Sun moves throughout the year.

Number the constellations of the zodiac in the order they are "visited" by the Sun. Start with the constellation Aries.

With the help of the atlas-determinant "From earth to sky" learn the names of two bright stars in the constellation Orion. On the model of the constellation, made according to the instructions of the textbook, sign them. Find information about these stars in the atlas - determinant. Try to see them in the evening sky.

Two bright stars in the constellation Orion - Betelgeuse, Rigel.

Betelgeuse- at the top left of the constellation Orion, a reddish star burns (its name translates as "giant's armpit"). Interestingly, this star is almost 400 times larger in diameter than the Sun.

Rigel- at the bottom right of the constellation Orion, this star shines (its name translates as "leg"). In the entire constellation, it is the brightest.

> Cassiopeia

What does the scheme look like constellation Cassiopeia northern hemisphere: how to find, description with photos, facts, star map, myth and legend, bright stars and objects.

Cassiopeia - constellation, which is in the northern sky. The name was given in honor of the conceited and boastful queen in the myths of ancient Greece.

For the first time, the constellation Cassiopeia was recorded in the second century by Ptolemy with other constellations of the Perseus group (except for the Lizard). It is easy to recognize in the sky because it resembles a "W" in shape. It contains several notable objects: open clusters and, the remnants of the supernova Cassiopeia A, the star-forming cloud NGC 281 and the cluster NGC 7789 (White Rose).

Facts, position and map of the constellation Cassiopeia

With an area of ​​598 square degrees, the constellation Cassiopeia ranks 25th in size. It is located in the first quadrant of the northern hemisphere (NQ1). It can be found in latitudes: from +90° to -20°. Adjacent to , and .

It contains three stars with planets and two Messier objects: M103 (NGC 581) and M52 (NGC 7654). The brightest star is Shedar. The Perseid meteor shower is associated with the constellation. Cassiopeia is part of the Perseus group along with, and. Consider the diagram of the constellation Cassiopeia on the map of the starry sky.

The myth of the constellation Cassiopeia

Cassiopeia was the wife of the king of Ethiopia, Cepheus (located next to her in the form of a constellation). Once she boasted that her beauty was superior to nerids (50 sea nymphs created by the titan Nereus). They got angry and asked Poseidon to punish her. He could not refuse, as he was married to one of them (Amphitrite). He sent Cetus, a sea monster depicted in the constellation of Cetus, who was supposed to destroy the kingdom.

The king asked the oracle for help, and he advised to give Poseidon his daughter Andromeda. With great difficulty they agreed and chained her to a rock. But at the last moment she was saved by Perseus, whom she later married. However, this is not the final. One of her admirers, Phineus, showed up at the wedding and accused her of treason, since only he had the right to marry her. A fight took place in which Perseus used the head of the Gorgon Medusa. But because many people looked at her, the king and queen also turned to stone.

Poseidon sent Cassiopeia and Cepheus to heaven. But he nevertheless punished her, since for half a year the constellation remains wrapped upside down. Most often, she is depicted sitting on a throne and combing her hair.

The main stars of the constellation Cassiopeia

Cassiopeia is distinguished by its unique "W" shape, an asterism created by five bright stars. From left to right: Epsilon, Delta, Gamma, Alpha and Beta Cassiopeia. Study the bright stars of the constellation Cassiopeia with a detailed description and characteristics.

Shedar(Alpha Cassiopeiae) is an orange giant of spectral type K0IIIa at 228 light years. This is a suspicious variable star. The apparent value may vary depending on which photometric system is used. The range contains from 2.20 to 2.23 magnitudes. It is located in the lower right corner of the W-asterism. The name Shedar is taken from the Arabic "şadr" - "chest". It marks the star position - in the heart of Cassiopeia.

cafe(Beta Cassiopeiae) is a subgiant or giant of spectral type F2 III-IV. It is 54.5 light years away from us. It is a Delta Scuti type variable star. Brighter than her in this class only (star in and 12th in the sky). This yellow-white star is 28 times brighter than the Sun and 4 times larger. It is currently in the process of cooling and will one day become a red giant.

Variables like Delta Scutum exhibit fluctuations in brightness due to radial and non-radial ripples on the surface. They are usually giants or main sequence stars with spectral types ranging from A0 to F5.

The mean apparent magnitude is 2.27. From the Arabic kaf is translated as "palm" (that is, the palm of the Pleiades is a well-known cluster in the constellation Taurus). Other traditional names are al-Sanam al-Naqa and al-Kaff al-Hadib.

Together with the stars Alferatz (Andromeda) and Algenib (Pegasus), Kaf was perceived as one of the Three Guides - three bright stars that create an imaginary line from Kaf to Alferatz to the celestial equator (the point where the Sun passes in the spring and autumn equinoxes).

Navi(Gamma Cassiopeia) is an eruptive variable star that serves as the prototype for the variable stars Gamma Cassiopeia. Shows irregular changes in brightness from 2.20 to 3.40 magnitude. It is the W-shaped central star and the brightest in the constellation (now).

It is a blue star (spectral type B0.5 IVe) located 610 light-years away, 40,000 times brighter than the sun, and about 15 solar masses. Due to the rapid rotation, it expands at the equator and creates a “maternity” disk of lost mass and material.

It is a known source of X-rays. The number is 10 times higher than other class B or Be stars. It is a spectroscopic binary star. A satellite with the mass of the Sun has a magnitude of 11 and a distance of two arcseconds. Rotates in 204 days.

The Chinese call it Qih - "whip". She also has the nickname "Navi" from astronaut Virgil Grissom. Navi is Ivan (in English, Ivan is the middle name of an astronaut), written in reverse order. The astronauts used the star as a guide.

Rukbach(Delta Cassiopeia) is an eclipsing binary star with a period of 460 days. It belongs to the spectral class A5. It is 99 light years distant and has an apparent magnitude between 2.68 and 2.74. It ranks fourth in brightness in the cluster. The name came from the Arabic - "knee". Sometimes it is called Xora.

Seguin(Epsilon Cassiopeiae) is a bright blue-white B-class giant 440 light years away. 2500 times brighter than the Sun with an apparent magnitude of 3.34. Age - 65 million years. The star is at the end of a cycle of hydrogen fusion. Differs in very weak spectral absorption of helium.

Achird(Eta Cassiopeii) is a yellow-white G-type hydrogen dwarf star, slightly cooler than the Sun. The surface temperature is 5730 Kelvin and the apparent magnitude is 3.45. It is the closest star in Cassiopeia to our system (only 19.4 light years away).

Achird has a companion, an orange K-class dwarf with an apparent magnitude of 7.51, 11 arcseconds away. Both are classified as a variable star, RS Canis Hounds. They form a close binary star and have active chromospheres that create large star spots. This leads to changes in luminosity - the brightness fluctuates by 0.05 magnitudes.

Zeta Cassiopeiae is a blue-white subgiant (B2IV) 600 light years away. The apparent visual magnitude is 3.67. It is an SPB (slowly pulsating B) variable star with a magnetic field. The rotation speed is 56 km/s, and the period is 5.37 days.

Rho Cassiopeia- a yellow hypergiant (a rare type, since there are only 7 of them in the Milky Way). It belongs to the spectral class G2Ia0e and is 11650 light years away. One of the brightest stars. Despite the distance, it can be viewed without technical equipment.

550,000 times brighter than the Sun with an absolute magnitude of -7.5. Apparent visual magnitude ranges from 4.1 to 6.2. This is a semi-regular variable with huge spikes every 50 years (due to this, the brightness changes). In 2000-2001, the star ejected about 10,000 Earth masses in one outburst.

Scientists believe that it exploded as a supernova because it used up most of its nuclear fuel. But if this is so, then the light from the explosion has not yet reached us.

V509 Cassiopeiae is a G-type supergiant at 7800 light years. The yellow-white star belongs to semi-regular variables. Luminosity varies within 4.75-5.5.

Celestial objects of the constellation Cassiopeia

(NGC 7654) is an open cluster 5000 light years away. The apparent magnitude is 5.0, so it can be seen with binoculars.

The age is 35 million years, and the size is 13 arc minutes (19 light years) in diameter.

The cluster was discovered by Charles Messier in 1774. Among the brightest stars, two yellow giants of magnitude 7.77 and 8.22 stand out.

(NGC 581) is an open cluster 10,000 light years away. Holds 172 stars. Age - 25 million years.

The cluster was discovered by French astronomer Pierre Mechain in 1781. It is noteworthy that this turned out to be the last object that Charles Messier added to his catalog.

- the remnant of a supernova. It is the most powerful radio source in the sky outside the Solar System and was one of the first radio sources discovered in 1947.

This is a cloud of material ejected from the explosion. Occupies 10 light years in diameter and expands at a speed of 4000-6000 km / s. The temperature is 50 million degrees Fahrenheit.

The explosion occurred approximately 11,000 years from Earth. The first light of a supernova came to us only 300 years ago.

(Pacman Nebula) is a large gas cloud in which star formation has recently taken place. Holds a huge amount of ionized atomic hydrogen (H II). Illuminates young, hot, blue stars with ultraviolet light.

It is called the Pacman Nebula because it looks like a character from a popular video game.

Removed 9500 light years from Earth. In 1883, the American astronomer E. E. Barnard found it.

NGC 7789(White Rose) is an open star cluster 7,600 light years away. The apparent magnitude is 6.7. It was discovered in 1783 by British astronomer Caroline Herschel.

The cluster is also called the White Rose or Carolina Rose because the star loops resemble rose petals.

NGC 185(Caldwell 18) is a dwarf spheroidal galaxy 2.08 million light years away. It is a satellite of the Andromeda Nebula. Belongs to the Seyfert type with an active galactic nucleus. It contains young star clusters and shows evidence of star formation.

It was found by John Herschel in 1787. The first photograph appeared thanks to James Keeler in 1898-1900. He used the Crossley Telescope (36 inches/910 mm), a reflecting telescope located at the Lick Observatory (California).

NGC 147(Caldwell 17) is a dwarf spheroidal galaxy 2.53 million light-years from Earth. It is also a satellite of the Andromeda Nebula and is part of the Local Group of Galaxies. Originally found in 1829 by John Herschel. The apparent visual magnitude is 10.5.

One of the most recognizable constellations in the northern hemisphere of the sky - Cassiopeia. Many of you have noticed in the circumpolar region a silhouette of bright stars in the form of the letter M or W, and so this is the famous asterism in the constellation Cassiopeia. The constellation lies on the strip of the Milky Way, as a result of which it is fraught with many open star clusters and more. Let's reveal all the secrets of this section of the celestial sphere.

Legend and history

The constellation got its name from one beautiful Greek legend. A long time ago lived the king of Ethiopia, Cepheus. He had a daughter, Andromeda, and a beloved wife, Cassiopeia. The wife often boasted of her beauty to the sea nymphs and one day they complained to Poseidon (God of the seas) about this. Poseidon, as punishment for boasting, sent the huge sea monster Kita to Ethiopia. From time to time, the whale swam to the shore and ate people and animals. Cepheus was very frightened and sent messengers to the oracle Zeus in Libya for help, hoping to get at least information on how to get rid of the monster.

The decision from the oracle was as follows - the Whale must eat Andromeda, and then he will leave the other inhabitants alone. King Cepheus resisted for a long time and did not want to give his daughter away, but the people forced him to do it. Andromeda was chained to a rock and left.

Fortunately, it was at this time that Perseus, the son of Zeus, flew over Ethiopia, he was returning home after defeating Medusa. Perseus really liked the chained girl and he decided to save the beauty at all costs. When the whale swam out of the sea, Perseus entered into battle with the enemy. The battle lasted for several hours, but in the end Perseus won and freed Andromeda.

In memory of such a valiant heroic deed, all the characters were placed in heaven. Therefore, in our time in the sky you can see the constellations, and.

Characteristics

The most interesting objects to observe in the constellation Cassiopeia

1. Open star cluster M 52 (NGC 7654)

Very saturated and dense open cluster M52 includes about 100 stars with a total brightness of 6.9 m and angular dimensions of 16 ′. It is clearly distinguishable even with binoculars or the simplest amateur telescope.

A closer look at the cluster reveals several cool orange stars. At high magnifications through a telescope M52 fully resolved into individual stars. But it is unlikely that it will be possible to count the exact number of stars, do not forget that the density of stars in the Milky Way strip is much higher.

open cluster M52 lies almost on the border with the constellation Cepheus, next to the Bubble emission nebula ( NGC 7635), which can be seen in the photo above in the upper right corner. I recommend laying the route from the bright star Kaf, the brightness of which is 2.27 m (shown below red arrows).

2. Diffuse Bubble Nebula (NGC 7635, C 11)

Near M52 located (emission) nebula NGC 7635(or "Bubble"). It is listed under the catalog number. C 11. The cloud of ionized gas has a brightness of about 10th magnitude and an apparent size of 15.0' × 8.0'. Unfortunately, more often the nebula can be captured on a camera than seen with one's own eyes in the eyepiece of a telescope, due to the low surface brightness and relatively large size.

Higher on the atlas green arrows showed the location of the diplomatic "Bubble".

3. A pair of open star clusters NGC 7788 and NGC 7790

Nice couple of small open clusters NGC 7788 and NGC 7790 only visually it seems that they are separated by a distance of several light years. In fact, this is an optical illusion and the clusters do not interact with each other in any way. The angular distance between the clusters is slightly more than 10′. Thus, in a wide-angle eyepiece, you can clearly see them simultaneously in the same field of view.

It's interesting that NGC 7790 brighter, larger and was discovered almost 40 years before its nearest neighbor NGC 7788. The brightness of the first cluster is 8.5 m , the angular size is 5′. Brightness same NGC 7788- 9.4 m, and the angular size - 4 ′.

We start the search from the star Kaf ( βCas) and slightly shift the telescope tube in a northeasterly direction. On the star map above blue arrows marked the direction to a pair of clusters.

4. Open star cluster NGC 7789

Large, beautiful and rich open cluster NGC 7789 fascinates with its appearance even when meeting with binoculars. About 150 dim stars give a total brightness of about 6.7 m and scattered "grains" over an area of ​​25 ′. The photo above shows how many other background stars are in this area of ​​the sky, and when you look through binoculars or a telescope, their number increases even more. My head is spinning from what I see.

Cluster NGC 7789 some sources call the Rosa Carolina cluster in honor of the German discoverer Caroline Herschel. The cluster has been removed from us at a distance of 8000 light years.

We start the search from the already familiar star Kaf or βCas and move the telescope tube in the direction indicated red arrows on the atlas.

5. Diffuse nebula NGC 281 + open cluster IC 1590

Immediately it is worth clarifying some confusion in the names of the nebula and the cluster. In some textbooks you can find NGC 281 as an open star cluster with a nebula, while other sources are clearly divided into two deep skys: NGC 281- this is an emission nebula, that is, a region of ionized hydrogen in which processes of active star formation and IC 1590- a small but very open cluster.

The distance to a pair of deep-sky objects is approximately 10 thousand light years. The total dimensions of the nebula are 35.0' × 30.0'. Brightness - about 7 m . By the way, often NGC 281 called the Pac-Man Nebula, after the character in the arcade game of the same name.

And again, lovers of astrophotography rejoice, with a telescope I was able to distinguish only an open cluster IC 1590 in the form of several bright stars, I did not notice any signs of nebula. How are you doing with Pac-Man? Share in the comments after reviewing the constellation.

The starting point for the desired pair of deep-sky objects will be the brightest star of the constellation Shedar or αCas gloss 2.24 m .

6-7. Pair of dwarf galaxies NGC 147 (C 17) and NGC 185 (C 18)

Next on the list of interesting deep skys in the constellation Cassiopeia are two dwarf galaxies. NGC 147 and NGC 185. The angular distance between them is slightly less than 1°. Galaxies do not interact with each other in any way.

NGC 147- a dwarf spheroidal galaxy, that is, small in size, almost spherical in shape and low surface brightness. At the same time, its total brightness is 9.3 m, and the angular dimensions are 13.2′ × 7.8′. By the way, it belongs to the Local Group of Galaxies and is a satellite of the famous Andromeda Nebula galaxy from the constellation.

NGC 185 is a dwarf elliptical galaxy. Also belongs to the Local Group of galaxies. Brightness - 9.2 m , angular dimensions - 14' × 12'. The 10-inch telescope looks much brighter, with a brightly defined core.

And again we find the bright star Shedar and move to the side Andromedae, after more than 7 degrees, bypassing several bright stars, you can distinguish 2 blurry hazy spots. Don't miss them, they are especially visible with peripheral vision, against the background of sharp stars.

8. Open star cluster NGC 457 (C 13)

NGC 457 or cluster Owl(and sometimes a cluster Dragonfly) is a very famous open cluster among observant astronomers. Indeed, it is very easy to imagine according to the contours of the stars: two bright eyes, wings, tail and body.

The apparent stellar magnitude of the cluster is 6.4 m, the apparent dimensions are 20′. Under ideal weather conditions, it can be seen even with the naked eye. It is best to observe with binoculars or an optical telescope finder. One of the favorite open clusters for astrophotographers.

In the night sky NGC 457 very easy to find, below on the map with colored arrows I offer several options (there, by the way, there is another cluster nearby NGC 436):

9. Open star cluster NGC 436

Compared to the previous NGC 457) cluster NGC 436 lost in the background of other stars. It can only be seen with binoculars. It includes about 25 stars of 12 - 14 magnitudes with a total brightness of 8.8 m. Visible dimensions - 5'.

Usually, NGC 436 observed in tandem with "Owl". In the photo below, you can notice the difference in size and brightness of the two neighboring clusters.

Open clusters NGC 436 (right) and NGC 457 (left)

10. Open star cluster M 103 (NGC 581)

Another open cluster M103, which fell into the Messier catalog, although it was discovered by Pierre Mechain. It is removed from us by 8 thousand light years and consists of 20 - 25 stars of different luminosity. Even in the image, shades of stars from blue to orange are clearly visible.

The brightness of the cluster is 7.4 m , the visible dimensions are 6'. I recommend studying the constellation through the eyepiece of a telescope at a low magnification; for 15x binoculars, the dimensions are still too small.

We find the bright star Rukba ( δCas) and move the pipe slightly eastward. Close to M103 there are three more clusters ( NGC 654, NGC 659, NGC 663), which we will discuss below.

11. Open star cluster NGC 654

I immediately apologize for the quality of the image, I simply did not find the best on the Internet, if you have a better one and you can publish it - write to the mail or in the comments.

Cluster moved away a little NGC 654 from a pack of others, however, no less interesting. It can be seen even with binoculars, but due to the small angular dimensions (6 ′), it is better to use a telescope. The brightness of the cluster is 6.5 m.

Stars in a cluster NGC 654 very scattered around the perimeter, and given that you can see hundreds of other stars in the background, you generally get lost in the integrity of the picture you see at first. But let your eye get used to it and "everything will fall into place." Start your search from the Rukba star, and through M103 you can get to the desired cluster NGC 654.

12. Open star cluster NGC 659

Another representative of a not very bright (luminosity - 7.9 m), but well distinguished from other stars, is an open cluster NGC 659. The number of stars in the cluster is 40. The brightest of them has a magnitude of 10m. The total dimensions of the cluster are 6′.

Near NGC 659, at a distance of a little more than 30 ′, one more cluster can be found - NGC 663.

13. Open star cluster NGC 663 (C 10)

The largest and most populous open cluster in the local group - NGC 663. It covers about 80 stars with a total brightness of 7.1 m. Visible dimensions - 15'. You can see it well even with binoculars.

The cluster has a very interesting shape: the brightest stars outline the contours of a horseshoe, in the middle of which there is not a single star. The stars on the periphery merge with the background.

When using an ultra-wide-angle eyepiece and a low magnification (up to 50x), it is possible to cover NGC 659 and NGC 663. Below is a snapshot of a pair of clusters against the backdrop of bright stars.

14. A pair of diffuse nebulae "Heart" (IC 1805) and "Soul" (IC 1848)

So that you immediately understand the cosmic scope of the nebulae IC 1805(Heart) and IC 1848(Soul), imagine in the image above the angular distance from the left edge of one nebula to the right edge of the other is 2.5°. That is, it is like 50 diameters of the full moon or almost 200 diameters of the planet Jupiter. And this raises the question: Are these nebulae visible to the naked eye?? No.

Despite the apparent stellar magnitude of 6.5 m for each of the nebulae, they are individually visible either under the most favorable weather conditions hundreds of kilometers from cities using special light filters or during astrophotography. The human eye, unfortunately, cannot distinguish such dim objects, but a digital camera can even in color.

In the "Heart" nebula, a separate section of interstellar matter has its own serial number in the New General Catalog - NGC 896.

Both nebulae are about 7500 light-years away from us; they are clouds of ionized hydrogen (plasma) that emit in the visible range of the spectrum. In books on astronomy, you can find images in the infrared range, for example, the following:

"Soul" (left) and "Heart" (right) in infrared

I recommend looking for nebulae from the extreme bright star of asterism εCas, and further towards the constellation, you will notice clouds of ionized gas. There, by the way, between them there is a good clue in the form of an open cluster NGC 1027. Another option is to start searching from clusters Hi-Ash Perseus.

15. Open star cluster NGC 1027

Between hid a handful of stars in the form of a cluster NGC 1027. The brightness of the cluster is 6.7 m , and the apparent angular dimensions are 15'. Thus, it can be seen both with binoculars and with the most budgetary telescope. Please note that in the image above, the Heart Nebula is visible against the background of the cluster ( IC 1805).

In fact, when you observe this cluster with binoculars or a telescope at low magnifications, you will not notice any nebulae in the background. It is necessary to use an additional special narrow-band light filter, which will add contrast to the nebula and blacken the cosmic background.

On the other side of the W or M asterism, there are many equally interesting deep-sky objects. Time to get to know them.

16. Open star cluster NGC 637

NGC 637- small (visible dimensions only 3′) and dim (brightness - 8.2 m) open cluster. Consists of 15 stars, which are very tightly gravitationally bound. Against the background of other stars, they are distinguished by greater brightness and size of individual stars. In a telescope, even at 80x magnification, the cluster is completely placed in the field of view of the eyepiece.

Starting from a star εCas, the extreme star of the asterism, and, bypassing the star of the 5th magnitude, you will meet the desired deep sky NGC 637.

17. Open star cluster NGC 609

Continuing the route from the star εCas through the cluster NGC 637, you will encounter another open cluster NGC 609. It's okay if you can't find it the first time. The brightness of the cluster is 11 m , and the dimensions are 3′.

In fact, the cluster is larger than the previous one and more saturated. It has about 40 stars. But it is much further away from us and it will not be easy to notice it in the canvas of other stars. I recommend looking in a telescope with a main mirror diameter of 200 millimeters (or 8 inches).

In the image below, the difference in brightness between the two clusters is almost indistinguishable:

18. Open star cluster NGC 559

At some distance from the previous ones, or rather at 1.5 °, there is another small open cluster NGC 559. According to some estimates, it consists of 40 stars of 12 - 16 magnitudes with a total brightness of 9.5 m and dimensions of 7 ′. The cluster is surrounded by (optically) a dozen brighter stars from 6 to 8 magnitudes.

On the star map above blue arrows showed the direction to deep-sky.

The central part of the constellation has not yet been discovered Cassiopeia. We move towards it and get acquainted with each deep-sky object personally.

19. Open star cluster NGC 381

Between the stars Navi and Rukba is a small cluster of very distant stars. The brightness of each star does not exceed magnitude 16, while the total apparent magnitude is 9.3 m. Dimensions - 7 ′, but it is very difficult to separate the cluster from other stars; The image above is proof of that.

Most deep-sky objects in the central region of the constellation are best found by starting from the star Navi or cafe. They are bright (about 2.4 m), visible to the naked eye, they are easy to find with an optical finder, and the desired clusters are not far from them.

Central part of the constellation Cassiopeia

20. Open star cluster NGC 225

Very beautiful and bright open cluster NGC 225 with nebula in the background. Consists of 20 stars from 9 to 11 magnitudes. Someone sees the letter W, like the asterism of the same name in the constellation, for others it is a stretched spiral spring.

The brightness of the cluster is 7 m , and the angular dimensions are 15′ (in other sources you can find the number 12).

On the atlas above from the star Navi green arrows indicated the direction to the cluster.

21. Pair of open clusters NGC 133 and NGC 146

This pair of clusters is probably the most difficult to find in the sky. An excellent guide will be a bright star of the 4th magnitude κCas.

NGC 133- an open cluster with a brightness of 9.4 m and an angular size of 3′.

NGC 146- an open cluster, the brightness of which is 9.1 m, and the apparent dimensions are 5 ′.

Each cluster contains 25 - 30 stars from 15 to 18 magnitudes. Gravitationally, the clusters are not connected in any way, they are removed from the solar system at a distance of approximately 15 thousand light years.

22. Open star cluster NGC 189

open cluster NGC 189 contains 2 groups of stars: blue hot B and A, and already cooling, surviving stars of the spectral class G and K.

The brightness of the cluster is 8.8 m , and the angular dimensions are 5'.

The search should start from the Navi star, after finding a large cluster NGC 225 and from it already move a little to the west to detect NGC 189. On the map above, green arrows indicated the direction immediately from the star HIP 4151 to the desired deep-sky object.

23. Open star cluster NGC 103

Clustered M103 we met earlier, now we have to learn about the open cluster NGC 103. Its brightness is noticeably lower, only 9.8 m. Consists of a dozen stars of 12 - 14 magnitude with a total area of ​​​​5 ′.

It is desirable to find all clusters in this central group one after another, for example, they found NGC 189, then follow to NGC 103. Nearby, although there are several stars of 6th magnitude, it will be problematic to immediately point the finder at them. You can also try to plot a route from the star Kaf ( βCas), from which we previously found clusters of the type NGC 7788 and NGC 7790.

24. Open star cluster NGC 129

And finally, the last and largest open cluster in the constellation Cassiopeia - NGC 129. Against the backdrop of previous clusters NGC 129 really has impressive dimensions (12 ′) and high brightness (6.5 m).

The bright star at the bottom of the image is a binary star with a brightness of 6 m .

The route can be laid from the star Navi(as indicated by the blue arrows on the star map above) and from the star cafe. Both options are optimal and easy.

Multiple star systems

25.1 Double star η Cas

ηCas or Cassiopeia - a double star, the components of which are: the main star is a yellow giant with a brightness of 3.7 m, and its companion is a red cold star with a brightness of 7.4 m. The angular distance between the stars is 12.2″. The orbital period of the satellite around the main star is 526 years. Removed from the Sun at a distance of 20 light years.

25.2 Double star σ Cas

σ Cas or Sigma Cassiopeia - a double star, which consists of a main component with a brightness of 5 m, and its companion with a brightness of 7.1 m. The distance between the stars is 3″.

Search for double stars Eta and Sigma Cassiopeia

Our space view of the constellation Cassiopeia came to an end. Well, are you impressed? What did I miss or not note? What can be added or corrected?