Cassiopeia is an interesting constellation of the northern latitudes. At first glance, this modest combination of stars consists of 90 celestial bodies. You can see them just by looking at the sky, of course, if you have good vision and no urban exposure.
The legend of Cassiopeia
The most common version of the legend says that an Ethiopian queen named Cassiopeia was extremely proud of her beauty. She was so arrogant that she began to compare herself with the younger goddesses, the daughters of Poseidon, and taunt them. The sea god heard impudent speeches and became angry. The whole country became a victim of anger, as the sea around the coast was covered by storms, a flood fell on the fields, and a huge Whale began to devour the ships.
To save his people, the ruler of the country Kefey had to sacrifice his own daughter Andromeda, although later Perseus saved her. And Cassiopeia herself sent the sea lord to heaven as a punishment. Every year the throne with the guilty queen is turned over, which makes her suffer terribly.
Later, the legend softened, and today the constellation Cassiopeia in the sky wanders to remind people of the beauty of the ancient queen.
What does the constellation Cassiopeia look like?
Inexperienced astronomers usually know only 5 of the brightest stars, which form a characteristic figure, similar to the Latin letter "W". Thus, the constellation Cassiopeia, the scheme of which has a simple concise form, is quickly remembered by observers. These five stars are used in navigation and orientation, their names are of Arab origin.
- The orange giant Shedar star - alpha Cassiopeia - has a degree of brightness of 2.2m.
- Cafe, beta constellation, has a brightness of approx. 2.3m
- Navi is the gamut of Cassiopeia, a star of variable brightness from 1m to 3m. This star has an interesting feature: a half-joking name was given to it in honor of NASA astronaut Virgil Ivan Grissom, i.e. his middle name is upside down. The older and traditional name of the star is Tsikh.
- Rukba - constellation delta, 2.7m.
- Segin (2.2m), epsilon Cassiopeia, blue-white giant.
The combination of these celestial bodies in the shape of the letter “M” is what the constellation Cassiopeia in the usual sense looks like.
How to find a constellation?
This constellation can be seen all year over the territory of the Northern Hemisphere. To observe the sky, you need to choose a cloudless night, you may have to leave the city, because the illumination from the buildings drowns the brilliance of even the brightest stars. You can also use binoculars.
What should I look for in order to find the constellation Cassiopeia? The search scheme has long been developed, guided by it, it is quite simple to find Cassiopeia. Using the scheme several times, one can easily find the eyes of as many as three northern constellations.
First we find the Big Dipper, or the "big bucket". It is probably difficult to find a person who could not identify this star cluster. In summer, Ursa Major shifts to the northwest, in the fall - to the north, in winter - to the northeastern part of the sky, in spring - it is at its zenith. Through the outer edge of the “bucket”, consisting of two stars, you need to draw a line to the first bright point - this is the North Star, the very tip of the handle of the “small bucket”, or Ursa Minor.
Now, from the penultimate star on the handle of the "large bucket" a straight line is laid aside to the North Star. The line is drawn at such a distance until the eye rests on Cassiopeia. With enough attention, this will be quite simple.
Cassiopeia constellation. Drawing by points, as an exercise for children
Drawing by points is a useful exercise that develops artistic talent in children. In drawing the constellations of the points, the broadening of the horizons of the child is also added to this, his interest in the secrets and beauty of the Universe is warmed up. The starry sky above your head captivates and gives rich food to the imagination of both children and adults.
Connecting the stars, you can see how the whole image turns out, compare yourself with ancient people, understand how their interpretation differs from the modern one. Each constellation is accompanied by a legend that is pleasant to listen to, like a fairy tale. So the stars become closer and dearer. By drawing constellations and finding out their names during the day, the child remembers them better when he looks at them live at night. This gives an impetus to systemic thinking and artistic flair. Comparing how the constellation Cassiopeia looks in the picture and in the sky, the child more deeply comprehends the difference between the abstract and the living.
The constellation Cassiopeia, the scheme of which was learned in childhood, will be remembered for a lifetime.
Do not neglect this exercise for adult beginners in astronomy. For example, to study the constellation Cassiopeia, drawing by points will help easily and quickly, a trained eye will instantly find familiar outlines.
Noteworthy objects
In 1752, the famous scientist Tycho Brahe was spotted by a brightly flashing star. However, after 16 months it went out. Perhaps the scientist was observing a supernova explosion.
The most famous star cluster is the playful name Salt and Pepper. It can be seen through binoculars between the stars Shedar and Kaf. There are two galaxies in the constellation of the ancient queen, but, unfortunately, they are accessible only to telescopes. Cassiopeia lies in the thickness of the Milky Way, therefore it is rich in objects of interest for study, there are quasar, galaxies, dark, diffuse and planetary nebulae. For the enthusiastic astronomer, Cassiopeia will discover all of its shining treasures.
Very close to Cassiopeia is the constellation of her husband and co-ruler Kefey, this combination of stars can be observed over the entire Northern Hemisphere. Other participants of the legend are nearby: Keith, Andromeda, Perseus. What does the constellation Cassiopeia look like surrounded by family and old enemies? Presumably regal and dignified.
The legend of Cassiopeia in art
All ancient legends that have come down to us have found their reflection in books, paintings and films. The legend of the arrogant queen was no exception. Over the years, her image has changed from a punished criminal to a proud beauty flying through the sky. Today, the queen has become a symbol of a brave and regal woman. An artistic look at how the constellation Cassiopeia looks, pictures show in a variety of variations.
The combination of star magic and human drama has always inspired talented creators. The constellation Cassiopeia and the legend about it had a mention in the films "The Green Mile", "Adolescents in the Universe" and "Langoliers." Musical groups were called by her name, paintings were written in her honor.
The entire sky is shrouded in legends, which makes the stars closer and dearer to humanity.
Photographing constellations
With the advent of cameras, the desire to capture pictures of the starry sky only grows stronger. Hubble photos have a bewitching effect. Many ordinary lovers are sure that such beauty can only be created using similar heavy-duty equipment, but in fact, almost every astronomer can make beautiful photos.
Of course, what the constellation Cassiopeia looks like (a photo taken by specialized equipment) cannot be compared with household cameras, but by experimenting with shutter speed and other shooting parameters, good results can be achieved. For long exposure, a special tripod is needed to compensate for the motion of the planet relative to the sky.