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What is Perseus in the sky?
Perseus is a constellation in the northern sky, being named after the Greek mythological hero Perseus. It is one of the 48 ancient constellations listed by the 2nd-century astronomer Ptolemy, and among the 88 modern constellations defined by the International Astronomical Union (IAU).
Who named the first constellations?
Ptolemy
Not only that, but Ptolemy also drew up a catalog of 1022 stars, with estimates of their brightness. It is because of these historic works that the Greeks are usually credited with the origin of the constellations. As far as we know, they were the first to record their names.
What name is given to a grouping of stars that is not a constellation?
An asterism is an observed pattern or group of stars in the sky. Asterisms can be any identified pattern or group of stars, and therefore are a more general concept than the formally defined 88 constellations.
What months is Perseus constellation visible?
The constellation Perseus, the hero, can be seen in late summer and autumn in the northern hemisphere. It is visible at latitudes between 90 degrees and -35 degrees. Perseus is a mid-sized constellation with a total area of 615 square degrees. This makes it the 24th largest constellation in the night sky.
When can you see Perseus in the sky?
When is the best time to view the Perseid meteor shower? The best time to look for meteors is in the pre-dawn hours. The meteors will peak between August 11-12, according to AMS. According to NASA, the Persieds will be active from July 14 to August 24.
What type of star is Perseus?
Algol is one of the first non-nova variable stars to be discovered, and its variability gives its name to a class of eclipsing variable stars, known as Algol variables. Algol is probably the most famous star in Perseus, and it is located at around 90 light-years away from our Solar System.
What is Perseus brightest star?
Perseus, constellation in the northern sky at about 4 hours right ascension and 40° north in declination. With a magnitude of 1.8, its brightest star is Mirfak (from the Arabic for “the elbow”), which is also known as Algenib (from the Arabic for “the side”).
Where are the Perseids 2021?
The skies should be clear in Joshua Tree National Park on August 11, for viewing the Perseids. You can see the Perseids from anywhere in the Northern Hemisphere where the skies are clear and dark enough on the night of August 11.