Andromeda is a constellation in the northern hemisphere of the sky, located between Perseus in the west, Cassiopeia in the north, Lizard in the east, Pegasus in the southeast, Pisces in the south, and Triangulum and Aries in the southwest. This name is given in honor of Andromeda from the ancient Greek myth, who is the daughter of King Cypheus and Queen Cassiopeia, who also have their own constellations in the sky. This constellation has an area of 722 square degrees - this is one of the largest constellations in the sky. In this constellation there are four especially bright stars, their names are Alferatz, Delta Andromeda, Mirach and Alamak, these four stars are clearly visible, like a line that leads from one corner of the body of the constellation Pegasus, and Alferatz takes place in the northwestern corner of the Pegasus square . In total, there are approximately 100 visible stars in this constellation. This constellation is famous for its spiral galaxy - the Andromeda Galaxy, which is closest to our Milky Way galaxy and is a much larger galaxy than our galaxy.
Name, History and Mythology[]
This constellation is one of the oldest constellations in the history of astronomy, it was one of the 48 constellations in the Almagest catalog compiled by the ancient Greek scientist Claudius Ptolemy. The history of this constellation is rooted in Greek mythology, although this constellation is still known to the Babylonian astronomers, who connected the middle part of the constellation Andromeda and the constellation Pisces, and called this constellation as Anunitum, or the Lady of Heaven, who was the goddess of Fertility in Ancient Babylon.
This constellation is also known as "The Lady in Chains" or "The Woman in Chains" in English. He was known as Mulier Catenata ("woman in chains") in Latin and al-Mar'at al Musalsalah in Arabic.
Also, this constellation at different times had the following names: Andromada (Andromada), with the commentary Mulier qui non vidit maritum ("a woman who has not seen her husband", a literal translation from Greek). On the contrary, the Arabs have the erroneous name Alarmalah (from "widow"). In general, due to religious considerations, the Arabs did not use their own Greek mythological names, but used descriptive euphemisms, such as "chained maiden", "chained in chains", etc. From these descriptions, the names of many stars and variants of the names of the constellations arose. Ali Aben Redouin (or simply Ali), the Arabic translator and commentator of the Tetrabiblos uses the constellation name Asnade, which the Codex Berlin reads Ansnade. And two more distorted names: Anroneda (Buttmann) and Antamarda (Hindus).
Myth of Andromeda[]
This constellation was also called Perseus ("wife of Perseus") or Cepheis ("daughter of Cepheus"), these are all names that refer to the role of Andromeda in the Greco-Roman myth of Perseus, in which Cassiopeia, the queen of Ethiopia, boasted that her daughter more beautiful than nereids, sea nymphs endowed with incredible beauty. Offended by her remark, the nymphs turned to Poseidon with a request to punish Cassiopeia for her insolence, which he did, ordering the sea monster Kit to attack Ethiopia. To Andromeda's panicked father, Cepheus, the Oracle of Ammon told him that the only way to save his kingdom was to sacrifice his daughter to Cepheus. She was chained to a rock by the sea, but was rescued by the hero Perseus, who in one version of the story used the head of Medusa in order to turn the monster to stone; according to another version, the Roman poet Ovid in his Metamorphoses, Perseus killed the monster with his diamond sword. Perseus and Andromeda then married; myth has it that the couple had nine children together - seven sons and two daughters - and founded Mycenae and their Persian dynasty. After Andromeda's death, Athena placed her in the sky as a constellation in her honor. Three neighboring constellations (Perseus, Cassiopeia and Cepheus) represent the characters of the myth of Perseus, and the Whale is located south of the constellation Pisces.
History of the Constellation[]
Andromeda was one of the original 48 constellations formulated by Ptolemy in his 2nd century Almagest, in which it was defined as a particular pattern of stars. Alpha Andromedae (Alferatz) usually place the head of Andromeda, and in the region where the stars Omicron Andromeda and Lambda Andromeda (northeast of the constellation) are located, the chains of Andromeda are depicted. And in the region of the stars Delta Andromeda, Pi Andromeda, Mu Andromeda, Beta Andromeda and Gamma Andromeda draw the body and legs of Andromeda. There is no universal depiction of Andromeda, and stars are used in various ways to represent her body, head, and chains.
Arab astronomers knew about the constellations of Ptolemy, but they had their own constellation, representing the fish that covered the body of Andromeda. The Andromeda Galaxy, M31, was in the nose of this fish.
Also, a few stars from Andromeda and most of the stars from Lizard were also included in the old constellation called Honores Friedriches (also called Friedrichs Ehre), which was created in 1787 by the German astronomer Johann Bode in honor of King Frederick II of Prussia. This constellation did not last long and quickly fell into disuse.
Since ancient times, Andromeda has remained a constellation and is officially recognized by the International Astronomical Union. All the stars that were known to Ptolemy in the second century are also included in the constellation Andromeda, and also, this constellation includes a large space around this constellation with many stars that were not previously considered to be any constellation.
In 1922, the IAU defined a recommended three-letter "I" abbreviation. The official boundaries of Andromeda were determined in 1930 by the Belgian astronomer Eugène Delporte as a polygon of 36 segments. Its right ascension is from 22h 57.5m to 2h 39.3m, and its declination is from 53.19° to 21.68° in the equatorial coordinate system.
Non-Western Astronomy[]
In addition to traditional Greek astronomy, as well as European astronomy, this region of the sky was depicted differently in Chinese, Indian, Arabic and Polynesian astronomy.
Chinese Astronomy[]
In traditional Chinese astronomy, nine stars from Andromeda (including Beta Andromeda, Mu Andromeda, and Niu Andromeda), along with seven stars from Pisces, form an elliptical constellation called "Feet" (奎宿). This constellation represented either the foot of a walking man or a boar. Gamma Andromeda and its neighboring stars were called "Teen Ta Tseang Keun" (天大将军, celestial great general), named after a great general from Chinese mythology and astrology. Alpha Andromeda and Gamma Pegasus together formed the Wall (壁宿), which is the eastern wall of the imperial palace and/or the emperor's personal library. For the Chinese, the northern strip of Andromeda served as a stable for changing horses (tianjiu, 天厩, stable in the sky), while the far western part, along with most of Lacerta, became Tengshe, the flying snake.
Arabic Astronomy[]
The Arabic constellation called "al-Hat" (fish) consisted of several stars in Andromeda, M31, and several stars in Pisces. Included in this constellation were the following stars Nu Andromedae, Mu Andromedae, Beta Andromedae, Eta Andromedae, Zeta Andromedae, Epsilon Andromedae, Delta Andromedae, Pi Andromedae, 32 Andromedae, and Nu Pisces, Phi Pisces, Chi Pisces, and Psi Pisces.
Hindu Astronomy[]
According to Hindu astronomy, Andromeda is known as the constellation Devyani and Cassiopeia is known as the constellation Sharmishta. Devyani and Sharmishta are the wives of King Yayati (constellation Perseus), who is the earliest patriarch of the Kuru and Yadu clans, which are often mentioned in the epic Mahabharata. There is an interesting story about these three characters mentioned in the Mahabharata. Devyani is the daughter of Guru Shukracharya.
Hindu legends surrounding Andromeda are similar to Greek myths. Ancient Sanskrit texts depict Antarmada chained to a rock, as in Greek myth. Scholars believe that Hindu and Greek astrological myths were closely related; one of the evidence cited is the similarity between the names "Antarmada" and "Andromeda".
Babylonian Astronomy[]
Andromeda is also associated with the Mesopotamian story of the creation of Tiamat, the goddess of Chaos. She gave birth to many demons for her husband Apsu, but eventually chose to destroy them in a war that ended when Marduk killed her. He used her body to create constellations as time markers for humans.
Astronomy of Oceania[]
In the Marshall Islands, Andromeda, Cassiopeia, Triangulum and Aries are included in the constellation representing the harbor porpoise. The bright stars of Andromeda are mostly found in the body of the dolphin; Cassiopeia represents its tail and Aries its head. In the Tuamotu Islands, Andromeda's Alpha was called Takurua-e-te-tuki-hanga-ruki, meaning "Star of Toil", while Andromeda's Beta was called Piringa-o-Tautu.
Notable Objects[]
In the constellation Andromeda, there are many different stars, star clusters, nebulae and galaxies. This article presents only the most notable objects.
Stars[]
Exoplanets[]
- Main article: List of Andromeda Exoplanets
Only some exoplanets will be noteworthy below.
Star Clusters[]
There are several star clusters in the constellation Andromeda.
Nebulae[]
There are only a few nebulae in the constellation Andromeda
Accumulation | Description | Location |
---|---|---|
NGC 7662 | Known as the Blue Snowball Nebula, this nebula is located southwest of Iota Andromeda at a distance of 4,000 light-years from the Sun. | |
Galaxies[]
- Main article: List of Andromeda Constellation Galaxies
In the constellation Andromeda, you can see many different galaxies, including the Andromeda galaxy:
Meteor showers[]
Each November, the Andromedids meteor shower appears to radiate from Andromeda. The shower peaks in mid-to-late November every year, but has a low peak rate of fewer than 2 meteors per hour. Astronomers have often associated the Andromedids with Biela's Comet, which was destroyed in the 19th century, but that connection is disputed. Andromedid meteors are known for being very slow and the shower itself is considered to be diffuse, as meteors can be seen coming from nearby constellations as well as from Andromeda itself. Andromedid meteors sometimes appear as red fireballs. The Andromedids were associated with the most spectacular meteor showers of the 19th century; the storms of 1872 and 1885 were estimated to have a peak rate of 2 meteors per second (a zenithal hourly rate of 10,000), prompting a Chinese astronomer to compare the meteors to falling rain. The Andromedids had another outburst on December 3–5, 2011, the most active shower since 1885, with a maximum zenithal hourly rate of 50 meteors per hour. The 2011 outburst was linked to ejecta from Comet Biela, which passed close to the Sun in 1649. None of the meteoroids observed were associated with material from the comet's 1846 disintegration. The observers of the 2011 outburst predicted outbursts in 2018, 2023, and 2036.
Constellations | |
---|---|
Modern Constellations | Andromeda Antlia Apus Aquarius Aquila Ara Aries Auriga Boötes Caelum Camelopardalis Cancer Canes Venatici Canis Major Canis Minor Capricornus Carina Cassiopeia Centaurus Cepheus Cetus Chamaeleon Circinus Columba Coma Berenices Corona Australis Corona Borealis Corvus Crater Crux Cygnus Delphinus Dorado Draco Equuleus Eridanus Fornax Gemini Grus Hercules Horologium Hydra Hydrus Indus Lacerta Leo Leo Minor Lepus Libra Lupus Lynx Lyra Mensa Microscopium Monoceros Musca Norma Octans Ophiuchus Orion Pavo Pegasus Perseus Phoenix Pictor Pisces Piscis Austrinus Puppis Pyxis Reticulum Sagitta Sagittarius Scorpius Sculptor Scutum Serpens Sextans Taurus Telescopium Triangulum Triangulum Australe Tucana Ursa Major Ursa Minor Vela Virgo Volans Vulpecula |
Obsolete Constellations | |
Northern Constellations | |
Equatorial Constellations | |
Zodiac Constellations | |
Southern Constellations | |
Lists of Brightest Stars in Constellations | Andromeda Antlia Apus Aquarius Aquila Ara Aries Auriga Boötes Caelum Camelopardalis Cancer Canes Venatici Canis Major Canis Minor Capricornus Carina Cassiopeia Centaurus Cepheus Cetus Chamaeleon Circinus Columba Coma Berenices Corona Australis Corona Borealis Corvus Crater Crux Cygnus Delphinus Dorado Draco Equuleus Eridanus Fornax Gemini Grus Hercules Horologium Hydra Hydrus Indus Lacerta Leo Leo Minor Lepus Libra Lupus Lynx Lyra Mensa Microscopium Monoceros Musca Norma Octans Ophiuchus Orion Pavo Pegasus Perseus Phoenix Pictor Pisces Piscis Austrinus Puppis Pyxis Reticulum Sagitta Sagittarius Scorpius Sculptor Scutum Serpens Sextans Taurus Telescopium Triangulum Triangulum Australe Tucana Ursa Major Ursa Minor Vela Virgo Volans Vulpecula |
All the Stars in the Constellations | Andromeda Antlia Apus Aquarius Aquila Ara Aries Auriga Boötes Caelum Camelopardalis Cancer Canes Venatici Canis Major Canis Minor Capricornus Carina Cassiopeia Centaurus Cepheus Cetus Chamaeleon Circinus Columba Coma Berenices Corona Australis Corona Borealis Corvus Crater Crux Cygnus Delphinus Dorado Draco Equuleus Eridanus Fornax Gemini Grus Hercules Horologium Hydra Hydrus Indus Lacerta Leo Leo Minor Lepus Libra Lupus Lynx Lyra Mensa Microscopium Monoceros Musca Norma Octans Ophiuchus Orion Pavo Pegasus Perseus Phoenix Pictor Pisces Piscis Austrinus Puppis Pyxis Reticulum Sagitta Sagittarius Scorpius Sculptor Scutum Serpens Sextans Taurus Telescopium Triangulum Triangulum Australe Tucana Ursa Major Ursa Minor Vela Virgo Volans Vulpecula |
Exoplanets in Constellations | Andromeda Antlia Apus Aquarius Aquila Ara Aries Auriga Boötes Caelum Camelopardalis Cancer Canes Venatici Canis Major Canis Minor Capricornus Carina Cassiopeia Centaurus Cepheus Cetus Chamaeleon Circinus Columba Coma Berenices Corona Australis Corona Borealis Corvus Crater Crux Cygnus Delphinus Dorado Draco Equuleus Eridanus Fornax Gemini Grus Hercules Horologium Hydra Hydrus Indus Lacerta Leo Leo Minor Lepus Libra Lupus Lynx Lyra Mensa Microscopium Monoceros Musca Norma Octans Ophiuchus Orion Pavo Pegasus Perseus Phoenix Pictor Pisces Piscis Austrinus Puppis Pyxis Reticulum Sagitta Sagittarius Scorpius Sculptor Scutum Serpens Sextans Taurus Telescopium Triangulum Triangulum Australe Tucana Ursa Major Ursa Minor Vela Virgo Volans Vulpecula |
Star Clusters in Constellations | Andromeda Antlia Apus Aquarius Aquila Ara Aries Auriga Boötes Caelum Camelopardalis Cancer Canes Venatici Canis Major Canis Minor Capricornus Carina Cassiopeia Centaurus Cepheus Cetus Chamaeleon Circinus Columba Coma Berenices Corona Australis Corona Borealis Corvus Crater Crux Cygnus Delphinus Dorado Draco Equuleus Eridanus Fornax Gemini Grus Hercules Horologium Hydra Hydrus Indus Lacerta Leo Leo Minor Lepus Libra Lupus Lynx Lyra Mensa Microscopium Monoceros Musca Norma Octans Ophiuchus Orion Pavo Pegasus Perseus Phoenix Pictor Pisces Piscis Austrinus Puppis Pyxis Reticulum Sagitta Sagittarius Scorpius Sculptor Scutum Serpens Sextans Taurus Telescopium Triangulum Triangulum Australe Tucana Ursa Major Ursa Minor Vela Virgo Volans Vulpecula |
Nebulae in the Constellations | Andromeda Antlia Apus Aquarius Aquila Ara Aries Auriga Boötes Caelum Camelopardalis Cancer Canes Venatici Canis Major Canis Minor Capricornus Carina Cassiopeia Centaurus Cepheus Cetus Chamaeleon Circinus Columba Coma Berenices Corona Australis Corona Borealis Corvus Crater Crux Cygnus Delphinus Dorado Draco Equuleus Eridanus Fornax Gemini Grus Hercules Horologium Hydra Hydrus Indus Lacerta Leo Leo Minor Lepus Libra Lupus Lynx Lyra Mensa Microscopium Monoceros Musca Norma Octans Ophiuchus Orion Pavo Pegasus Perseus Phoenix Pictor Pisces Piscis Austrinus Puppis Pyxis Reticulum Sagitta Sagittarius Scorpius Sculptor Scutum Serpens Sextans Taurus Telescopium Triangulum Triangulum Australe Tucana Ursa Major Ursa Minor Vela Virgo Volans Vulpecula |
Lists of Galaxies in the Constellations | Andromeda Antlia Apus Aquarius Aquila Ara Aries Auriga Boötes Caelum Camelopardalis Cancer Canes Venatici Canis Major Canis Minor Capricornus Carina Cassiopeia Centaurus Cepheus Cetus Chamaeleon Circinus Columba Coma Berenices Corona Australis Corona Borealis Corvus Crater Crux Cygnus Delphinus Dorado Draco Equuleus Eridanus Fornax Gemini Grus Hercules Horologium Hydra Hydrus Indus Lacerta Leo Leo Minor Lepus Libra Lupus Lynx Lyra Mensa Microscopium Monoceros Musca Norma Octans Ophiuchus Orion Pavo Pegasus Perseus Phoenix Pictor Pisces Piscis Austrinus Puppis Pyxis Reticulum Sagitta Sagittarius Scorpius Sculptor Scutum Serpens Sextans Taurus Telescopium Triangulum Triangulum Australe Tucana Ursa Major Ursa Minor Vela Virgo Volans Vulpecula |