Cepheus - The King

Learn about the constellation Cepheus - The King, location, facts, mythology, meteor showers and deep space objects.

Cepheus is a northern constellation named after King Cepheus in Greek mythology and is considered to represent a king.

Location: Northern Circumpolar 22h RA 70° Dec

γ Cephei is a binary star approximately 50 light years away from Earth. The system consists of an orange star and a red dwarf. Due to the precession of the equinoxes, γ Cephei will be the pole star between 3000 and 5200 A.D., with the closest approach to the north celestial pole around 4000 A.D.

Cepheus Mythology

When including fainter stars, visible to the naked eye, Cepheus appears as a man with a crown (upside down concerning the ecliptic). Together with other constellations nearby (Andromeda, Perseus, Cassiopeia, and possibly Pegasus), and the constellation Cetus below Cepheus, this may be the source of the myth of the Boast of Cassiopeia, with which it is usually identified.

Cepheus Deep Space Objects

NGC 188 is an open cluster that has the distinction of being the closest open cluster to the north celestial pole, as well as one of the oldest known open clusters.

NGC 6946 is a spiral galaxy in which ten supernovae have been observed, more than in any other galaxy.

The quasar 6C B0014+8120 is one of the most powerful objects in the universe, powered by a supermassive black hole equivalent to 40 billion Suns.

In this table, the observation month represents the month in which the object reaches its highest point in the sky. It can also be viewed a few months before and after depending on your location. Direction is the compass direction in which the object is located, with Z meaning Zenith or overhead.