Cetus

For the sea monster, see Cetus (mythology).

Cetus

Constellation
List of stars in Cetus
Abbreviation	Cet
Genitive	Ceti
Pronunciation	/ˈsiːtəs/, genitive /ˈsiːtaɪ/
Symbolism	the Whale, Shark, or Sea Monster
Right ascension	1.42 h
Declination	−11.35°
Quadrant	SQ1
Area	1231 sq. deg. (4th)
Main stars	15
Bayer/Flamsteed stars	88
Stars with planets	15
Stars brighter than 3.00m	2
Stars within 10.00 pc (32.62 ly)	9
Brightest star	β Cet (Deneb Kaitos)† (2.04m)
Nearest star	Luyten 726-8 (8.73 ly, 2.68 pc)
Messier objects	1
Meteor showers	October Cetids Eta Cetids Omicron Cetids
Bordering constellations	Aries Pisces Aquarius Sculptor Fornax Eridanus Taurus
Visible at latitudes between +70° and −90°. Best visible at 21:00 (9 p.m.) during the month of November. Note: †Mira (ο Cet) is magnitude 2.0 at its brightest.

Cetus is a constellation. Its name refers to Cetus, a sea monster in Greek mythology, although it is often called 'the whale' today. Cetus is located in the region of the sky that contains other water-related constellations such as Aquarius, Pisces, and Eridanus.

Notable features

Ecliptic

Although Cetus is not considered part of the zodiac, the ecliptic passes close to its constellation boundary, and thus the planets may be seen in Cetus for brief periods of time. This is even more true of asteroids, since their orbits usually have a greater inclination to the ecliptic than planets. For example, the asteroid 4 Vesta was discovered in this constellation in 1807.

Stars

Main article: List of stars in Cetus

The most notable star in Cetus is Mira (or ο Ceti), the first variable star to be discovered. Over a period of 331.65 days it can reach a maximum magnitude as high as 2.0^m, one of the brightest in the sky and easily visible to the unaided eye, then drop to 10.1^m and back again. Its discovery in 1596 by David Fabricius further dented the supposed unchangeability of the heavens and lent support to the Copernican revolution.^{[citation needed]}

Other stars in the constellation include α Ceti (Menkar); β Ceti (Deneb Kaitos), brightest in the constellation; and τ Ceti, the 17th closest star to Earth.

Deep sky objects

Cetus lies far from the galactic plane, so that many distant galaxies are visible, unobscured by dust from the Milky Way. Of these, the brightest is Messier 77 (NGC 1068), a 9th magnitude spiral galaxy near δ Ceti. Recently, the galactic cluster JKCS 041 was confirmed to be the most distant cluster of galaxies yet discovered.^[1]

Equivalents

In Chinese astronomy, the stars of Cetus are found among two areas: the Black Tortoise of the North (北方玄武, Běi Fāng Xuán Wǔ) and the White Tiger of the West (西方白虎, Xī Fāng Bái Hǔ).

Namesakes

USS Cetus (AK-77) was a United States Navy Crater class cargo ship named after the constellation.

See also

• Cetus (Chinese astronomy)

References

1. ^ "Scientists identify new galaxy". Metro. 23rd October, 2009. http://www.metro.co.uk/news/756711-scientists-identify-new-galaxy. 

• Ian Ridpath and Wil Tirion (2007). Stars and Planets Guide, Collins, London. ISBN 978-0007251209. Princeton University Press, Princeton. ISBN 978-0691135564.

External links

• The Deep Photographic Guide to the Constellations: Cetus
• Star Tales – Cetus

Coordinates: 01^h 25^m 12^s, −11° 21′ 00″