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 12936HIP 12982HIP 12994HIP 13000HIP 13001HIP 13007HIP 13017HIP 13020HIP 13028HIP 13009HIP 13049HIP 13054HIP 13056HIP 13057HIP 13063HIP 13076HIP 13058HIP 13088HIP 13093HIP 13099HIP 13105HIP 13116HIP 13124HIP 13144HIP 13150HIP 13162HIP 13164HIP 13169HIP 13176HIP 13178HIP 13180HIP 13181HIP 13187HIP 13157HIP 13211HIP 13217HIP 13230HIP 13250HIP 13251HIP 13257HIP 13238HIP 13393HIP 13404HIP 13407HIP 13453HIP 13434HIP 13436HIP 13443

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.