Cepheus, the King of Ethiopia (Cep)

(see-FEE-us)

The Northern constellation of Cepheus, the King of Ethiopia, is best viewed in Fall during the month of October. It's brightest star is Alderamin at magnitude 2.45. The boundary of the Cepheus constellation contains 3 stars that host known exoplanets.

Cepheus is a circumpolar constellation, so is visible year-round in the Northern hemisphere. Conversely, it is not visible in the opposite hemisphere unless you are close to the equator.

Orange hypergiant RW Cephei is the 5th largest known star in the universe at 1,500 times the size of the Sun.

1. Pronunciation:
2. see-FEE-us

1. Meaning:
2. King of Ethiopia

1. Genitive:
2. Cephei

1. Abbreviation:
2. Cep

1. Constellation Family:
2. Perseus

1. Hemisphere:
2. Northern

1. Quadrant:
2. NQ4

1. Best viewing month*:
2. October

1. Circumpolar** (N=northern, S=southern):
2. N circumpolar

1. Right Ascension (avg):
2. 22h 25m

1. Declination (avg):
2. 72° 34'

1. Brightest star:
2. Alderamin (2.45)

1. Stars with planets:
2. 3

1. X-ray stars:
2. 4 (2 binaries) stars

1. Messier catalog objects:
2. |

Brightest Stars in Cepheus

The 10 brightest stars in the constellation Cepheus by magnitude.

1. Star
2. Magnitude
3. Spectral class

1. Alpha Cepheus (α Cep)
2. 2.45
3. A7IV-V

1. Gamma Cephei (γ Cep)
2. 3.21
3. K1IV

1. Beta Cephei (β Cep)
2. 3.23
3. B2IIIv SB

1. Zeta Cephei (ζ Cep)
2. 3.39
3. K1Ibv SB

1. Eta Cephei (η Cep)
2. 3.41
3. K0IV

1. Iota Cephei (ι Cep)
2. 3.5
3. K0III

1. Delta Cephei A (δ Cep A)
2. 4.07
3. F5Iab + B7-8

1. Epsilon Cephei (ε Cep)
2. 4.18
3. F0IV

1. Theta Cephei (θ Cep)
2. 4.21
3. A7III

1. Mu Cephei (μ Cep)
2. 4.23
3. M2Ia

Double Stars in Cepheus

These are the brightest and easiest-to-find double, triple, and quadruple star systems in the constellation Cepheus . Also see all star clusters.

1. Star system
2. Magnitudes
3. Type

1. Beta Cephei
2. 3.2, 8.6
3. double

1. Struve 2816
2. 5.7, 7.5, 7.5
3. triple

1. Xi Cephei
2. 4.5, 6.4
3. double

1. Delta Cephei
2. 4.2, 6.1
3. double

Star Clusters in Cepheus

The most notable and easy-to-find star clusters in the constellation Cepheus . Also see all star clusters.

1. Star cluster
2. Catalog #
3. Cluster type

1. NGC 188
3. open

1. Palomar 1
3. globular

1. Wizard Nebula
3. open

Nebulae in Cepheus

Notable and easy-to-find nebulae in the constellation Cepheus . Also see all nebulae.

1. Nebula name
2. Catalog #
3. Nebula type

1. Bow-Tie Nebula
2. C2
3. planetary

1. Cave Nebula
2. C9
3. diffuse

1. Elephant's Trunk Nebula
3. diffuse

1. Iris Nebula
2. C4
3. reflection

1. Shark Nebula
3. emission

* Constellation shown for northen hemisphere skies. For the southern hemisphere, constellations appear rotated 180 degrees (upside-down and left-right reversed) from what is shown. Remember that seasons are reversed too - summer in northern latitudes is winter in southern latitudes.

** Circumpolar constellations are visible year-round in the hemisphere listed (and not at all in the opposite hemisphere).