Perseus, the Hero (son of Zeus) (Per)

(PER-see-us)

The Northern constellation of Perseus, the Hero (son of Zeus), is best viewed in Winter during the month of December. It's brightest star is Mirfak at magnitude 1.79. The boundary of the Perseus constellation contains 7 stars that host known exoplanets.

1. Pronunciation:
2. PER-see-us

1. Meaning:
2. Hero (son of Zeus)

1. Genitive:
2. Persei

1. Abbreviation:
2. Per

1. Constellation Family:
2. Perseus

1. Hemisphere:
2. Northern

1. Quadrant:
2. NQ1

1. Best viewing month*:
2. December

1. Right Ascension (avg):
2. 3h 31m

1. Declination (avg):
2. 44° 53'

1. Meteor showers:
2. Perseids

1. Brightest star:
2. Mirfak (1.79)

1. Stars with planets:
2. 7

1. Messier catalog objects:
2. M34 | M76 |

1. Caldwell catalog objects:
2. C14 | C24 |

Brightest Stars in Perseus

The 10 brightest stars in the constellation Perseus by magnitude.

1. Star
2. Magnitude
3. Spectral class

1. Alpha Persei (α Per)
2. 1.79
3. F5Ib

1. Beta Persei (β Per)
2. 2.09
3. B8V

1. Zeta Persei (ζ Per)
2. 2.84
3. B1Ib

1. Epsilon Persei (ε Per)
2. 2.9
3. B0.5V

1. Gamma Persei A (γ Per A)
2. 2.91
3. G8III+

1. Gamma Persei B (γ Per B)
2. 3

1. Delta Persei (δ Per)
2. 3.01
3. B5III SB

1. Rho Persei (ρ Per)
2. 3.32
3. M3IIIvar

1. Eta Persei (η Per)
2. 3.77
3. K3Ib comp SB

1. Nu Persei (ν Per)
2. 3.77
3. F5IIvar

Double Stars in Perseus

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

1. Star system
2. Magnitudes
3. Type

1. Eta Persei
2. 3.8, 8.5
3. double

1. Struve 331
2. 5.2, 6.2
3. double

Star Clusters in Perseus

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

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

1. Alpha Persei Cluster
3. open

1. Double Cluster
2. C14
3. open

1. IC 348
3. open

1. Messier 34
2. M34
3. open

Nebulae in Perseus

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

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

1. California Nebula
3. emission

1. Little Dumbbell Nebula
2. M76
3. planetary

1. Northern Trifid Nebula
3. emission

Galaxies in Perseus

The most notable, famous, and easy-to-find galaxies in the constellation Perseus. Also see all galaxies.

1. Galaxy name
2. Alt name
3. Galaxy type

1. Perseus A
2. C24
3. Seyfert

Neutron Stars in Perseus

These are the most well-known neutron stars in the constellation Perseus. Although neutron stars cannot be seen in any amateur telescope, they are at the center of many supernova remnant nebulae, which can be seen. Also see all neutron stars.

1. Neutron star
3. Type

1. 4U 0352+309
3. X-ray pulsar

Black Holes in Perseus

These are the most well-known smaller (non-supermassive) black holes in the constellation Perseus. Although black holes cannot be seen directly, the smaller ones are at the center of some star clusters and supernova remnant nebulae, which can be seen. Supermassive black holes are at the center of most galaxies, such as Sagittarius A* at the center of our Milky Way galaxy. Also see all black holes.

1. Black hole
3. Type

1. GRO J0422+32
3. stellar

* 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).