We use cookies to deliver essential features and to measure their performance. By using this site you accept our Privacy Policies.
A Complete Guide to the Solar System and the Night Sky
Donate Now! Help keep this site free and ads-free!
public Observing fromLocation: Greenwich, United Kingdom edit_location_alt
SunriseRise: 6:04  
clear_day Transit: 12:06  
SunsetSet: 18:09
sleep NighttimeWhat's Visible Now?
All Constellations » 

Cepheus (The King) Constellation

Altitude: 40.6°   Azimuth: 25.8°   Direction: North-North-East

Cepheus (pronounced ˈsiːfiəs, -fjuːs) is the Latin name of a large constellation (in fact it extends itself for about 46 degrees across the sky) situated close to the northern celestial pole. As such, it is visible for most part of the year from the northern hemisphere.

In English language this constellation is also known as "The King" while in astronomical texts and literature this constellation is often abbreviated as "Cep" (according to the standard of the International Astronomical Union - IAU) or as "Ceph" (according to a naming convention used by NASA).

The Latin genitive of the constellation name is "Cephei" (pronounced ˈsiːfiaɪ) and it is used to identify some of the brightest stars in this constellation based on the Bayer or Flamsteed star naming convention. For instance: α Cephei (the brightest star of Cepheus based on the Bayer catalog); or 23 Cephei (the 23th star in the constellation of Cepheus based on the Flamsteed catalog).

Cepheus is above the horizon from Greenwich, United Kingdom edit_location_alt. Altitude: 41°.
Available Resources for Cepheus

Sky Chart of Cepheus Constellation

Here we provide a simplified sky chart of the Cepheus constellation. Alternatively it is possible to locate Cepheus in the night sky using our Online Interactive Planetarium.

Chart of  constellation
This constellation image is derivatve work based on original work by IAU and Sky & Telescope magazine (Roger Sinnott & Rick Fienberg) CC-BY-3.0.

Visibility of Cepheus Constellation

Location: Greenwich, United Kingdom edit_location_alt
Latitude: 51° 28’ 47” N
Longitude: 0° 00’ 00” E
Timezone: Europe/London

Cepheus is circumpolar and transits at 11:07 UTC (altitude: 72.3°)

The rise and set times provided here are just directional indications and they refer to a point approximately placed at the center of the constellation. In case of very large constellations (like Cepheus actually is) these times can have little relevance.

Bright Stars in Cepheus Constellation

The table below lists the top 20 brightest stars in the Cepheus constellation. See also the complete list of 153 stars brighter than magnitude 6.5 (approximate) in the constellation of Cepheus. Click on each star to see more details about it.

HR Number(*) Star designation Proper name Visual magnitude Color Notes
HR8162 α Cephei Alderamin 2.44 Variable; Multiple;
HR8974 γ Cephei Errai 3.21 Variable;
HR8238 β Cephei Alfirk 3.23 Variable; Multiple;
HR8465 ζ Cephei 3.35 Variable;
HR7957 η Cephei 3.43 Double;
HR8694 ι Cephei 3.52
HR8571 δ Cephei 3.75 Variable; Multiple;
HR8316 μ Cephei 4.08 Variable; Multiple;
HR8494 ε Cephei 4.19 Variable; Double;
HR7850 θ Cephei 4.22
HR285 4.25
HR8334 ν Cephei 4.29 Variable;
HR8417 ξ Cephei Kurhah 4.29 Multiple;
HR7750 κ Cephei 4.39 Multiple;
HR8819 π Cephei 4.41 Multiple;
HR7955 4.51 Double;
HR8317 11 Cephei 4.56
HR8748 4.71
HR8279 9 Cephei 4.73 Variable;
HR8702 4.74 Double;
...go to the complete list of 153 bright stars in the constellation of Cepheus

(*) HR stands for Harvard Revised Bright Star Catalogue, which is also known as the Yale Catalogue of Bright Stars.

Deep Sky Objects in Cepheus Constellation

The table below lists the 20 brightest deep sky objects in the Cepheus constellation. See also the complete list of 45 deep sky objects in the constellation of Cepheus. The list includes objects from the Messier, New General Catalogue (NGC) and Index Catalogue (IC).

Name Type Magnitude
NGC 7160 Open Cluster 6.1 (V)
NGC 7380 Star Cluster + Nebula 7.2 (V)
NGC 7023 (Iris Nebula) Nebula 7.2 (B)
NGC 7234 Open Cluster 7.7 (V)
NGC 6939 Open Cluster 7.8 (V)
NGC 7510 Open Cluster 7.9 (V)
NGC 188 Open Cluster 8.1 (V)
NGC 7261 Open Cluster 8.4 (V)
NGC 7142 Open Cluster 9.3 (V)
NGC 7226 Open Cluster 9.6 (V)
NGC 6951 Galaxy 10.65 (V)
NGC 7129 Star Cluster + Nebula 11.5 (V)
IC 1470 HII Ionized region 11.5 (B)
NGC 40 (Bow-Tie nebula) Planetary Nebula 11.89 (V)
NGC 1184 Galaxy 12.19 (V)
NGC 2300 Galaxy 12.2 (B)
NGC 7354 Planetary Nebula 12.2 (V)
NGC 2276 Galaxy 12.3 (B)
NGC 7419 Open Cluster 13 (V)
...go to the complete list of 45 deep sky objects in the constellation of Cepheus