Celestial hemisphere:  Northern  ·  Constellation: Draco (Dra)  ·  Contains:  HD172783  ·  HD172922
Mini-Cassiopeia asterism (Kemble 2), Massimo Di Fusco
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Mini-Cassiopeia asterism (Kemble 2)

Mini-Cassiopeia asterism (Kemble 2), Massimo Di Fusco
Powered byPixInsight

Mini-Cassiopeia asterism (Kemble 2)

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Description

The great constellation of Cassiopeia is named for Queen Cassiopeia whose daughter Andromeda was rescued from the sea monster Cetus by the hero Perseus. Cassiopeia offers up one of the most well-known asterisms in the entire sky, its five main stars forming the distinctive and easy seen "W" pattern. But were you aware that lying not too far away in Draco lies the "Little Queen", a smaller, yet still striking version.
Draco is a large, sprawling constellation that now lies overhead. The "Little Queen", or "Mini-Cassiopeia" lies in Draco’s easterly region; look for it one degree south-east of magnitude +3.5 chi Draconis. The stars forming the ‘W’ figure shine between seventh- and ninth-magnitude, with the brightest member being magnitude +6.8 HIP 91163, and span about 20 x 10 arcminutes. 
The asterism goes by the more formal name of Kemble 2, first named by Father Lucian Kemble in August 1994. Astronomer Arlid Moland coined its "Mini-Cassiopeia" moniker.

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