Constellation · Cas
Cassiopeia
The Queen
Easy to spot by its W (or M) shape of five bright stars. It is circumpolar from mid-northern latitudes, so it never sets there.
Magnitude 2.15
Highest in the sky at 9 pm local time (autumn in the northern hemisphere)
Latitudes where every part of it rises above the horizon at some time of year
The whole sky covers about 41,253 square degrees
Stars brighter than about magnitude 6, the naked-eye limit under dark skies
Named stars in Cassiopeia
Brightest first. A lower magnitude means a brighter star.
- Navi (Gamma Cassiopeiae)mag 2.15
- Shedar (Alpha Cassiopeiae)mag 2.24
- Caph (Beta Cassiopeiae)mag 2.28
- Ruchbah (Delta Cassiopeiae)mag 2.66
- Segin (Epsilon Cassiopeiae)mag 3.35
- Achird (Eta Cassiopeiae)mag 3.46
Can you see Cassiopeia from where you live?
This depends only on your latitude. Pick the row nearest to you; for your exact sky tonight, use the sky map.
| Latitude | Cassiopeia |
|---|---|
| 60°N | Visible all night, all year (it never sets) |
| 40°N | The whole constellation rises and sets |
| 20°N | The whole constellation rises and sets |
| the equator | The whole constellation rises and sets |
| 20°S | Only part of it ever clears the horizon |
| 40°S | Only part of it ever clears the horizon |
| 60°S | Never rises |
Questions about Cassiopeia
When is Cassiopeia best seen?
Cassiopeia stands highest in the sky at 9 pm local time in November. That makes autumn evenings the best time for observers in the northern hemisphere; in the southern hemisphere the season is reversed.
What is the brightest star in Cassiopeia?
The brightest star in Cassiopeia is Navi (Gamma Cassiopeiae), magnitude 2.15.
Where on Earth can you see Cassiopeia?
The whole of Cassiopeia can be seen from latitudes between about 12°S and 90°N. From 40°N: The whole constellation rises and sets. From 35°S: Only part of it ever clears the horizon.
What does Cassiopeia mean?
Cassiopeia is Latin for "the Queen". One of Ptolemy's 48 ancient constellations (2nd century).