![]() It has a diameter of about 115,800 light years. Next to Messier 77, NGC 1055 is a largest member of a galaxy group – measuring 115,800 light years in diameter – that also includes NGC 1073 and several smaller irregular galaxies. It is located approximately 52 million light years away and is seen edge-on from Earth. Then there’s NGC 1055, a spiral galaxy that lies just 0.5 north by northeast of Messier 77. It has an Active Galactic Nucleus (AGN) which is obscured from view by intergalactic dust, but remains an active radio source. A notable examples is the barred spiral galaxy known as Messier 77, which is located approximately 47 million light years away and is 170,000 light years in diameter, making it one of the largest galaxies listed in Messier’s catalogue. Credit: NASA/CXC/MIT/C.Canizares/D.Evans et al/STScI/NSF/NRAO/VLAĬetus is also home to many Deep Sky Objects. These stars are red giants whose surfaces oscillate in such a way as to cause variations in brightness over periods ranging from 80 to more than 1,000 days.Ĭomposite image of Messier 77 (NGC 1068), showing it in the visible, X-ray, and radio spectrums. This binary system consists of an oscillating variable red giant (Mira A).Īfter being recorded for the first time by David Fabricius (on August 3, 1596), Mira has since gone on to become the prototype for the Mira class of variables (of which there are six or seven thousand known examples). Then comes Omicron Ceti, also known as Mira, binary star consisting located approximately 420 light years away. It’s traditional name (Menkar), is derived from the Arabic word for “nostril”. Then there’s Alpha Ceti, a very old red giant star located approximately 249 light years from Earth. The name Diphda comes “ ad-dafda at-tani“, which is Arabic for “the second frog” – the star Fomalhaut in neighboring Piscis Austrinus is usually referred to as the first frog.) ![]() The name Deneb Kaitos is derived from the Arabic “ Al Dhanab al Kaitos al Janubiyy”, which translates as “the southern tail of Cetus”. This star has left its main sequence and is on its way to becoming a red giant. It’s brightest star is Beta Ceti, otherwise known as Deneb Kaitos (Diphda), a type K0III orange giant which is located approximately 96.3 light years away. Credit: WIkipedia Commons/Erik Lernestål Notable Features:Ĭetus sprawls across 1231 square degrees of sky and contains 15 main stars, highlighted by 3 bright stars and 88 Bayer/Flamsteed designations. Cetus, as depicted by famed 17th century cartographer Willem Blaeu, 1602. The constellation is also represented in many non-Western astrological systems.In Chinese astronomy, the stars of Cetus are found among the Black Tortoise of the North ( B?i F?ng Xuán W?) and the White Tiger of the West ( X? F?ng Bái H?). However, Cetus has also been variously depicted with animal heads attached to an aquatic animal body. In the 17th century, Cetus was depicted variously as a “dragon fish” (by Johann Bayer), and as a whale-like creature by famed 17th-century cartographers Willem Blaeu and Andreas Cellarius. However, its most common representation is that of the sea monster that was slain by Perseus. Originally, Cetus may have been associated with a whale, and is often referred to as the Whale. No matter what the legends are, Cetus is an rather dim, but interesting constellation! History of Observation:Ĭetus was one of many Mesopotamian constellations that passed down to the Greeks. Arab legend has it that Cetus carries two pearl necklaces – one broken and the other intact – which oddly enough, you can see among its faint stars in the circular patterns when nights are dark. He also represents the gates to the underworld thanks to his position just under the ecliptic plane. Credit: Library of Congress/Sidney HallĪs for poor, ugly Cetus. (This whole tale is quite wonderful when studied, for we can also tie in Pegasus as Perseus’ horse, Algol and the whom he slew to get to Andromeda and much, much more!) Cetus, as represented by Sidney Hall in this card from Urania’s Mirror (1825). In mythology, Cetus ties in with the legendary Cepheus,Cassiopeia, Andromeda, Perseus tale – for Cetus is the monster to which poor Andromeda was to be sacrificed.
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