Perseus

Perseus, the Hero, is a northern constellation named after the Greek hero who slew Medusa. It contains Algol (Beta Persei), the most famous eclipsing binary star, whose regular brightness variations were noted by ancient astronomers. The constellation is the radiant of the Perseid meteor shower, one of the most popular annual meteor showers, peaking in August.

The Perseus family groups constellations connected by the Greek myth of Perseus, the hero who slew Medusa and rescued Andromeda. This family includes some of the most prominent autumn constellations in the northern sky. The constellations tell a connected story: King Cepheus and Queen Cassiopeia of Ethiopia, their daughter Andromeda chained to a rock, the hero Perseus arriving on Pegasus, and Cetus the sea monster — all placed in the sky as a complete mythological tableau.

Mythology & History

The Perseus myth is one of the most complete stories preserved in the constellations. Cassiopeia's boast that she was more beautiful than the sea nymphs angered Poseidon, who sent Cetus to ravage the coast. The oracle declared Andromeda must be sacrificed, but Perseus — fresh from beheading Medusa — turned the monster to stone with the Gorgon's head. Perseus married Andromeda, and all the characters were later placed among the stars. The variable star Algol (Beta Persei) was associated with Medusa's winking eye, and its regular brightness changes were noted by ancient Egyptian astronomers as early as 1244 BC.

Observation Tips

The Perseus family constellations are best seen in autumn and winter from northern latitudes. Cassiopeia's distinctive W-shape is circumpolar from mid-northern latitudes and serves as a guide to finding the other family members. This region is exceptionally rich: the Andromeda Galaxy (M31) — the most distant object visible to the naked eye — lies in Andromeda, the Double Cluster (NGC 869/884) straddles Perseus, and the annual Perseid meteor shower (peaking in August) appears to radiate from Perseus.

HIP 15639HIP 12211HIP 15693HIP 15717HIP 15790HIP 15849HIP 15862HIP 15878HIP 15887HIP 15911HIP 15982HIP 16004HIP 16011HIP 16075HIP 12456HIP 12579HIP 12587HIP 12635HIP 12782HIP 16149HIP 16154HIP 16161HIP 16186HIP 16209HIP 16230HIP 16294HIP 16309HIP 16318HIP 16328HIP 16430HIP 16476HIP 16483HIP 16502HIP 16552HIP 12892HIP 13034HIP 13036HIP 13086HIP 13097HIP 13191HIP 13298HIP 16576HIP 16625HIP 16632HIP 16649HIP 16655HIP 16667HIP 16692

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Perseus constellation?
Perseus (Per) is one of the 88 IAU-recognized constellations in the Northern hemisphere. Perseus, the Hero, is a northern constellation named after the Greek hero who slew Medusa. It contains Algol (Beta Persei), the most famous eclipsing binary star, whose regular brightness variations w
How many stars are cataloged in Perseus?
StarFYI currently catalogs 2,000 stars in the constellation Perseus.
What is the brightest star in Perseus?
The brightest star in Perseus is Mirfak.
How large is the Perseus constellation?
Perseus covers 614.99 square degrees of the sky.
What family does Perseus belong to?
Perseus belongs to the Perseus Family of constellations.