Cassiopeia Constellation - Report Example

Cassiopeia constellation Introduction When human beings look outward into the sky, they see stars that are at different distances from the earth. However, in most cases, human eyes often do not reveal how much the stars are far from each other and the differences in brightness among the stars. Human beings have over the years come up with theories about the group of stars that appear in one location of the sky or another. The major star groups are known as constellations. The name of the constellations originated due to their resemblance to objects such as scorpion. However, in most cases the names were used to give honor to a hero or other subject of a story (Rey 32). As night approaches on an autumn evening, human beings are able to view pointers in the two end stars know as Dipper pointing towards Polaris. Polaris is also known as the North Star. Further, Polaris is not one of the notorious stars in the world, however, it is known for its closeness to the location of the celestial North Pole. Polaris uniquely comes out almost motionless in the sky over the night and provides important direction to help human beings get out of the woods. Almost at the small distance on the other side of Polaris is a W shaped constellation known as the Cassiopeia. Traditionally, the Greek attribute the star’s origin to the marriage of Cephus and Cassiopeia, the king of Ethiopia (Rey 32). As human beings continue to move their eyes across the sky away from pointers, they eventually see the constellation Andromeda, who in Greek tradition was the daughter to Cassiopeia. Further, moving south east from Cassiopeia, alongside the Milky Way, the constellation Perscus can be seen (Rey 32). After autumn, the winter season begins. The constellations Cassiopeia appear close and closer to the western horizon virtually in the same hour in the night. In the early evening in the month of January, constellation Cassiopeia and Perseus are often seen in an overhead position. Further, to the south of the Milky Way, closer to Perseus, human beings can be able to view six stars next to each other in the space. The big and superb constellation Cassiopeia is circumpolar in the mid-northern latitudes. This shows that human beings can view the stars in every night and for the whole night. Constellation Cassiopeia never rises nor sets. The patterns resulting from the display of the five brightest stars look like slightly extended letter M when the constellations are in Culmination or the letter W when it is above the northern horizon. If the star’s approximate position is identifies, then it is easier to view it at any place and time. In the constellation, the brightest stars include the Gamma, alpha or Shedir, beta, delta and Epsilon (Plunket 241). Further, the whole areas is occupied in stars and open clusters as the milky way winds it way from end to end of the constellation. Some of the stars constituting the constellation Cassiopeia are discussed as follows. Gamma Gamma, which is stationed in the middle of the constellation, is in M figure. In addition, Gamma is the 63rd brightest star in the sky, of about 614 light years away from the earth. Its radiance is as much as 3700 times that of the sun. Gamma is an asymmetrical uneven star. According to Kambic (236), Gamma’s brightest is normally below magnitude 2, but sometimes it shines brighter. Historically, the last time when the star almost attained magnitude two was in 1937 when the star was able to attain magnitude 1.6. Since it has a very unusual band of rays, astronomers have argued that it is very unsteady. Basing the stars strength on spectroscopic data, most astronomers have concluded that during its amplified luminosity in 1937, the star blew off some parts of its layers into interstellar space (Kambic 236). Shedir Shedir also know as Schedar is an orange huge of the phantom type K0IIIa, about 228 light years away. It is an alleged ever changing star. Its obvious size can be either to some extent brighter or less brighter than Caph, also known as Alpha Cassiopeiae), according to which photometric classification is applied. Further, the star ranges from 2.20 to 2.23 magnitudes. Alpha Cassiopeiae is situated at the underside right of the W asterism. The star’s conventional given name, Schedar, is derivative from the Arabic “şadr”, which symbolizes “breast.” The given name defines the star’s location, showing Cassiopeia’s heart (Kambic 236). Caph Caph also known as Beta Cassiopae a sub massive or huget star classified to the phantom type F2 III-IV, about 54.5 light years away from the earth. It is recorded as a Delta Scuti type uneven star. The lone Delta Scuti brighter than Caph is Altair, the strongest star in the group Aquila and 12th brightest star in the heavens. Delta Scuti variables, which are also referred to as Al Velae, Dwarf Cepheids, or Al Velorum stars, characteristically demonstrate decreases in radiance because of both radial and non-radial rays on their exterior. They are frequently huge or main series of stars of phantom types ranging stuck between A0 and F5. Caph has an average obvious size of 2.27. Its conventional given name is consequential from the Arabic “kaf”, which symbolizes “palm” for instance, palm of the Pleiades or attainment from the Pleiades. The star’s other conventional given names include Al-Sanam al-Nakah and al-Kaff al-Khadib (Plunket 241). Jointly with the stars Alpheratz member of Andromeda and Algenibmember of Pegasus, Caph was recognized as one of the Three Guides; three shiniest stars showing the unreal line from Caph to Alpheratz running to the outer space of equator, at a position where the Sun passes it at each spring and autumn equinox. Caph star is said to be 28 times stronger than the Sun and four times the dimension. It is at present in the course of cooling and will ultimately turn out to be a red giant (Kambic 236). Rucbah Rucbah also known as Delta Cassiopeiae is an eclipsing twofold star with a duration of 460 days. It is classified to the spectral group A5. It is approximately 99 light years far from the earth and has obvious brightness strength that range between 2.68 and 2.74.further, Rucbah is the fourth shiniest star in the group. The star’s conventional name, Ruchbah, originates from the Arabic rukbah, which symbolizes “knee”. From time to time the star is also referred to as Ksora (Plunket 241). Segin Segin also referred to as Epsilon Cassiopeiae is a shiny blue-white B-class huge star, of about 440 light years away from the earth. Segin is reported by astronomers to be 2,500 times brighter than the Sun. Further, the star has an obvious illustration magnitude of 3.34. Segin’s probable age is 65 million years, in addition; it is at the most recent division of the hydrogen-fusing cycle. Segin is distinguished for presentation of a great deal of weak phantom absorptions of helium (Plunket 241). Achird Archid also referred to as Eta Cassiopeiae is the closest star in group to our solar system, located only 19.4 light years far from the earth. Achird is comparable to the Sun because it has a yellow-white G-class hydrogen combining dwarf, to some extent having lower temperatures than the Sun. It has an exterior temperature of 5730 Kelvin. In addition, Achird has an obvious magnitude of 3.45 (Nock 2). Achird has a less bright buddy. The buddy possesses an orange K-class dwarf with a noticeable magnitude of 7.51, positioned 11 arc seconds away. The two stars are grouped according to an RS Canum Venaticorum class capricious star; they make up a close twofold star and have lively chromospheres that lead to huge stellar patches which, in turn, lead to changes in the star system’s radiance. It is worth noting that the star’s system luminosity varies by 0.05 magnitudes (Nock 2). Other members to the constellation such as Rho Cassiopeia are members to a very uncommon group of stars, the yellow hyper huge stars, merely seven of which are at the present known within the Milky Way Galaxy. Rho Cassiopeia star is a member to the spectral group G2Ia0e. It is about 11,650 light years far away from the earth. Consequently, it is one of the brightest stars that are present in the space. Despite its far remoteness, Rho Cassiopeia can be seen by the bare eyes (Nock 2). Other astronomers assert that Rho Cassiopeia is about 550,000 times more luminous than the Sun, with a complete magnitude of -7.5.the star’s obvious seen magnitude ranges from 4.1 to 6.2. Further, the star is also known as a semi-regular variable. It passes through several massive outbursts approximately every half a century, leading to a change in brightness. In the new millennium, the star generated about 10,000 Earth heaps some of the outbursts. In addition, Rho Cassiopeia is alleged to by now have blown up the same way as a supernova since it has used a good number of its nuclear energy; however, if this is the phenomenon, the light from the detonation is yet to reach the earth (Sasaki 36). Conclusion As human beings continue to move their eyes across the sky away from Cassiopeia constellation pointers, they eventually see the constellation Andromeda, who in Greek tradition was the daughter to Cassiopeia. Further, moving south east from Cassiopeia, alongside the Milky Way, the constellation Perscus can be seen. All these when watched from the earth can be very interesting and full of fun. Works Cited Kambic, Bojan. Viewing the constellations with Binoculars: 250+ wonderful objects to see and explore. New York. Springer. 2009. Print. Nock, Judy. Provenance press’s Guide to the Wiccan Year: A year Round guide to spells, rituals and holiday celebrations. New York. Adams Media. 2007. Print. Plunket, Emmeline. Calenders and constellations of the ancient world. New York. Cosimo Inc. Print. Rey, Hans. Find the constellations. New York. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 1954. Print. Sasaki, Chris. The constellation: stars and stories. New York. Sterling Publishing Company. 2003. Print. Read More