Cepheus (Constellation)
Contents
Overview
Cepheus, the king, is a circumpolar constellation of the northern hemisphere.
Named stars
Alderamin (Alpha Cephei / α Cep)
An A7 class star 49ly from our solar system
Alfirk (Beta Cephei / β Cep)
A giant B class star with a spectral type of B2IIIev. Located at a distance of 595.18ly β Cep appears quite faint but is in fact 14600x more luminous than the Sun.
Errai (Gamma Cephei / γ Cep)
Errai is a star at the sub-giant phase. It is of spectral type K1IV and is located at a distance of 44.99ly from Earth. Errai has a red dwarf companion, γ Cep B. Errai also has a known planet, γ Cep Ab.
Alrediph (Delta Cephei / δ Cep)
A variable star which has a regular fluctuation of spectral type between F5 and B2. δ Cep is located at a distance of 1347ly and has an apparent magnitude between 3.48 and 4.37.
δ Cep is the prototype star for all cepheid variables, variable stars which pulsate at regular intervals. δ Cep is a multiple star system, its companion star, δ Cep C, is an A0 class star. δ Cep B may or may not be an optical double rather than a true binary.
The Garnet Star (or Erakis or Herschel's Garnet Star) (Mu Cephei / μ Cep)
A distinctly red variable supergiant star of class M1.
Open Clusters
NGC 188 (Caldwell 1 / h34 / Melotte 2 / Collinder 1)
At 5 billion years old NGC 188 is one of the oldest clusters in the Milky Way. It has an apparent magnitude of +8.1 and in located at a distance of 5000 light years.
NGC 6939
This cluster has an apparent magnitude of +7.8.
NGC 7023
A cluster located within the Iris Nebula.
NGC 7129
An open cluster within a reflection nebula. It has an apparent magnitude of +12 and is 3300ly from Earth.
NGC 7142
An open cluster 6000ly away and has an apparent magnitude of +9.3.
NGC 7160 (GC 4719)
This cluster has an apparent magnitude of +6.1.
NGC 7226
A cluster with an apparent magnitude of +9.6.
NGC 7261 (Cr 450)
A cluster with an apparent magnitude of +8.4.
NGC 7235
A cluster with an apparent magnitude of +7.7.
NGC 7380 (CH 19 / H VIII.77)
An open cluster associated with a bright diffuse nebula (Sh2-142). NGC 7380 was discovered in 1787 by Caroline Herschel.
NGC 7419 (GC 6864 / h 2190)
A cluster with an apparent magnitude of +13.
NGC 7423
A cluster with an apparent magnitude of +15.
NGC 7510 (GC 4902 / h 2213)
This cluster has an apparent magnitude of +7.9.
NGC 7762
A cluster with an apparent magnitude of +10.
Nebulae
Elephant's Trunk Nebula (IC 1396A)
An emission nebula and part of IC 1396.
Iris Nebula (Caldwell 4)
A bright reflection nebula associated with the cluster NGC 7023
Bow-Tie Nebula (NGC 40 / Caldwell 2)
A planetary nebula with an apparent magnitude of +11. Discovered in 1788 by W.F.Herschel.
NGC 7354 (PK 107+2.1 / CS=15.0)
A planetary nebula with an apparent magnitude of +12.9.
IC 1396
A large emission nebula some 1500ly from Earth.
IC 1454
A planetary nebula with an apparent magnitude of +15.
Galaxies
The Fireworks Galaxy (or Fire Cracker Galaxy) (NGC 6946 / Caldwell 12 / Arp 29)
An intermediate spiral galaxy with an apparent magnitude of +8.9.
NGC 1184
An S0/a galaxy with an apparent magnitude of +13.
NGC 1544
A galaxy with an apparent magnitude of +14.
NGC 2276
An Asymmetric spriral galaxy with an apparent magnitude of +11.40.
NGC 2300
This galaxy has an apparent magnitude of +11.
NGC 6949 (Swift V)
A galaxy with an apparent magnitude of +15.
NGC 6951 (Swift II)
A galaxy with an apparent magnitude of +11.1.
IC 455
A galaxy with an apparent magnitude of +14.
IC 1502
An S0+ lenticular galaxy with an apparent magnitude of +15.
Bordering Constellations
Cepheus shares its borders with the following constellations: Ursa Minor, Draco, Cygnus, Lacerta, Cassiopeia, and Camelopardalis.
