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 14067HIP 14068HIP 17541HIP 17548HIP 17549HIP 17554HIP 17558HIP 14076HIP 14081HIP 14084HIP 14085HIP 14092HIP 14095HIP 17577HIP 17584HIP 17603HIP 17611HIP 17619HIP 17622HIP 17626HIP 14103HIP 14107HIP 14118HIP 14123HIP 14125HIP 17631HIP 17644HIP 17648HIP 17649HIP 14134HIP 14137HIP 14145HIP 14147HIP 17655HIP 17665HIP 17666HIP 17675HIP 14173HIP 14178HIP 14179HIP 14181HIP 14182HIP 17681HIP 17682HIP 17685HIP 17700HIP 14196HIP 14207

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.