The Top 4 Autumn Constellations

As summer ends and the cool air and dreary skies of autumn descend upon us, it’s hard not to feel a bit regretful that you didn’t spend more time outdoors, gazing up at the summer sky. Fortunately, for lovers of astronomy, autumn skies present hidden treasures of their own. And while you may have to search a bit harder to find them, we guarantee these 4 constellations are well worth your star-gazing effort.

Cassiopeia

Cassiopeia, the northern constellation named after the Greek myth which tells of a queen named Cassiopeia who claimed to be the most beautiful in all the land. Well…we hate to say it but the constellation of Cassiopeia just might be one of the most beautiful we’ve seen. Containing 5 stars and shaped like a “W”, an “M”, or–our favorite interpretation–a crown, Cassiopeia is located at the edge of the Milky Way.

Perseus

Just east of Cassiopeia (and north of Taurus) is Perseus, the constellation named for the Greek hero known for killing various monsters, including the nefarious Medusa. Perseus contains two star clusters visible to the naked eye in addition to an open cluster (though this is often hard to spot). While Perseus reaches its highest point in December, it’s never too early to be on the lookout.

Andromeda

Mid-November is the best time to view Andromeda, the constellation named after the Greek mythological princess named–you guessed it–Andromeda. Containing the Andromeda galaxy and the bright star Andromedae, this constellation is a wonder on a cool, crisp autumn night.

Pegasus

Pegasus may be named after a winged horse, but this constellation is best known for it’s large asterism (pattern of stars) which forms the Square of Pegasus. And remember Andromedae, the brightest star in the Andromeda galaxy? Well it’s also the northeastern star of the Square of Pegasus. Pretty cool, huh?

While these certainly aren’t the only constellations, they’re some of our personal favorites. And if you haven’t added astronomy to your list of hobbies yet…well, you should! Check back for more info. on astronomy and, while you’re at it, take a peak at www.astronomy.com. Happy star gazing!