Perseus is a very popular constellation among stargazers for so many reasons. For starters, Perseus has a bright part of an arm of the Milky Way flowing through it which means it contains lots of cool targets. The easiest to find is the Alpha Persei Cluster centered on the bright star Mirfak. It really sparkles in binoculars.
Even more spectacular is the famous Double Cluster which consists of two gorgeous clusters that are so close to each other in our sky that they can be viewed at the same time. It is one of the most loved targets among stargazers. Even though it can be spotted naked-eye and with binoculars, a telescope is needed for the best views.
And then there's Algol, the Demon star that, every two days dims noticeably for ten hours before returning to its normal brightness. No wonder our ancestors gave it the name they did. We know today that it consists of two stars, one bright and one much dimmer that circle each other. The dimming occurs when the dimmer star eclipses the brighter one in our line of sight.
A favorite among astrophotographers is the California Nebula. It is as large as five full moons lined up in our sky and contains countless stars in the process of being born from a giant, glowing, cloud of gas. Being so dim it takes a camera mounted on a telescope to 'see' it well.
And, of course, Perseus contains the radiant of the ever-popular Perseid Meteor shower that peaks around August 12th. In other words, all the meteors appear to be coming from this constellation.
We can't neglect to mention the fun mythology associated with Perseus... the short version is (take a big breath) that he was the Hero sent to save the beautiful Andromeda, daughter of Cassiopeia and Cepheus, who was about to be devoured by the sea monster Cetus (because her mother bragged too much about her beauty) so he cut off the head the fearsome Gorgon Medusa and held it up to the monster to turn it to stone and got to fly around on the incredible horse, Pegasus. (OK, breathe again). Hey -- aren't most of these names the names of other constellations? Of course!
Be sure to check out all the links below. Have fun exploring Perseus!
Viewing Perseus, the Hero
Level
Easy
Rating
Best Viewing
October through March
Find
The easiest way to find Pereus is to first find Cassiopeia and then look for the bright star Mirfak below. But don't get it confused with the very bright star Capella in Auriga, which is even lower.
Try drawing Perseus with bright stars, lines and labels. Count how many stars you can see in the Alpha Persei Cluster. Keep an eye on Algol to see if you can notice the dimming over a period of days.
The Milky Way flows through Perseus. With binoculars, explore its thousands of stars and numerous clusters. Take time and enjoy. Be sure to check out the Alpha Persei Cluster -- it is best viewed in binoculars, not a telescope.
Check out the links below for viewing the breath-taking Double Cluster and the beautiful California Nebula.
