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 13339HIP 13340HIP 13344HIP 13351HIP 13352HIP 13360HIP 14303HIP 13371HIP 13372HIP 13375HIP 13378HIP 13409HIP 13426HIP 13432HIP 13450HIP 13462HIP 14776HIP 14826HIP 14840HIP 14845HIP 14907HIP 14914HIP 14924HIP 14976HIP 15006HIP 15017HIP 15035HIP 15059HIP 15065HIP 15097HIP 15145HIP 15192HIP 15282HIP 15313HIP 11870HIP 11902HIP 11960HIP 15350HIP 15388HIP 15448HIP 15456HIP 15491HIP 15497HIP 15505HIP 15543HIP 15551HIP 1561710 Per

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.