Andromeda is a constellation named for the princess Andromeda (which is Greek for Ruler over men), a character in greek mythology. The constellation is in the northern sky near the constellation Pegasus, and takes the general shape of a long, dim, straggly letter "A". It is most notable for containing the Andromeda Galaxy.

Notable features

The brightest star in Andromeda, α Andromedae, called Alpheratz or Sirrah, makes up with α, β, and λ Pegasi an asterism called the Great Square of Pegasus. This star was once considered part of Pegasus, as confirmed by its name, "navel of the horse."

β Andromedae is called Mirach, the girdle. It is 88 light years distant and of magnitude 2.1.

γ Andromedae, or Almach, is found at the tip of the southern leg of the big "A". It is a beautiful multiple star with contrasting colours.

υ Andromedae has a planetary system with three confirmed planets, 0.71 times, 2.11 times, and 4.61 times the mass of Jupiter.

Notable deep sky objects

The most famous deep sky object in Andromeda is M31, the Andromeda Galaxy, the most distant object visible to the naked eye. It is an enormous spiral galaxy much like ours. To find the galaxy, draw a line between β and μ Andromedae, and extend the line approximately the same distance again from μ.

Mythology

If fainter stars, visible to the naked eye, in the constellation are considered, then the constellation takes the form of a female stick-figure, with a prominent belt (as has the constellation Orion), where one arm has something long attached to it, giving the appearance of a female warrior holding a sword. This, together with other stars in the zodiac sign of Aries (part of Pisces, and the Pleiades), may be the origin of the myth of the girdle of Hippolyte, which forms part of The Twelve Labours of Herakles.

Alternately, by including still fainter stars, which the naked eye can see, the attachment extends in a different direction, giving the appearance of a maiden held by a chain., and Andromeda appears to be trying to get away [1] (http://borghetto.astrofili.org/costellazioni/andromeda.JPG). Together with other constellations nearby (Cepheus (constellation), Perseus, Cassiopeia, and possibly Pegasus), and the constellation Cetus below Andromeda, this may be the source of the myth of the Boast of Cassiopeia, with which it is usually identified.

See Also