If you are an astronomy fanatic, you would love reading about the great Andromeda Constellation. This constellation is named after a Greek mythical princess, andromeda, who was married to the mythical hero, Perseus.
You may recognize this as the prominent constellation that comprises of Andromeda Galaxy: Messier 31 and the notable dwarf elliptical galaxies: Messier 32 Le Gentil and the Messier 110. The brightest star if this constellation is the popular Alpha Andromedae.
History of Andromeda Constellation
On December 6th, 1741, the Andromedids meteor shower was first documented over Russia. Though this meteor shower vanished after its discovery, notable activity is observed in this constellation in mid-November.
A combination of Andromeda and stars of Pisces was observed in ancient Rome and Greece. The Arabic astronomers termed it a fish, “Al-Hut”. The ancient Chinese stargazers sketched different figures out of the alignment of Andromeda’s stars. Later, in the south Pacific, stargazers observed the Andromeda constellation, which was low on the horizon, and joined with other constellations as a porpoise.
What is the English name for Andromeda Constellation
The English for Andromeda Constellation is “the Chained Maiden”. You may also refer to it as “the Princess of Ethiopia”.
What is the Greek mythological significance of the Andromeda Constellation?
The Greek mythology claims that Andromeda was the daughter of King Cepheus of Ethiopia and Queen Cassiopeia. The Queen offended the Nymphs and Gods, and as a way to please them and avoid destruction, King Cephus was advised to sacrifice his daughter by chaining her to rocks. But Andromeda was saved by Persues. To honour Andromeda, Athena, the goddess, placed her image among the stars right next to her husband, Perseus, and mother, Cassiopeia.
How to Find Andromeda Constellation?
You can easily locate the popular Andromeda Constellation by following these steps:
- Locate a W-shaped constellation in the northern part of the sky named “Cassiopeia”
- Andromeda will be right next to it
- You can also recognize a boxy-shape of stars that form the Pegasus Constellation
- Andromeda also comprises of stars that have 3 stars which are brighter than the magnitude of 3.00.
What is the Area of Andromeda Constellation?
This 19th largest constellation occupies an area of 722 square degrees in the sky.
What Quadrant is Andromeda Constellation in?
Andromeda Constellation is located in the first quadrant of the Northern Hemisphere. It is commonly referred to as NQ1.
What Latitudes is Andromeda Constellation visible in?
This constellation can be located between the latitudes +90° and -40°. You can identify it as the neighbour of these constellations:
- Cassiopeia
- Lacerta
- Pegasus
- Perseus
- Pisces
- Triangulum
What Type of Telescope if Best for Viewing Andromeda Constellation?
Unlike other large constellations, you cannot view Andromeda Constellation in detail from your science project telescope set up in your backyard. If you want to observe this constellation in its entirety, then a wide-angle eyepiece and a five-inch Dobsonian Telescope is the way to go. However, these sights will be nothing compared to the conspicuous images collected by the Hubble Space Telescope.
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