Introduction
Andromeda’s name comes from a legendary Greek princess, the daughter of Cassiopeia and King Cepheus of Ethiopia. When Queen Cassiopeia boasted of Andromeda’s beauty, it angered Poseidon, who set a sea monster upon their kingdom as punishment.
The Myth of Andromeda
In the myth, Andromeda was chained to a rock as an offering to the sea monster Cetus. Perseus, son of Zeus and hero in Greek mythology, came to her rescue. He defeated the monster using Medusa’s head, which turned Cetus to stone.
Perseus loved Andromeda and married her. They traveled together and had seven sons and two daughters.
The Naming of the Andromeda Constellation
The Greek astronomer Ptolemy named the Andromeda constellation in the 2nd century AD, including it in his renowned work, the Almagest, alongside 47 other constellations.
You can see the constellation in the northern hemisphere during autumn and winter. Its bright star, Alpheratz, marks Andromeda’s head. A chain of stars that curves around Cassiopeia forms Andromeda’s body and legs.
Andromeda’s Place in the Night Sky
The Andromeda constellation hosts the Andromeda Galaxy, also called Messier 31. This galaxy is one of the nearest to Earth, only about 2.5 million light-years away.
The Andromeda Galaxy is the largest galaxy in the Local Group, which includes the Milky Way and other nearby galaxies. Visible to the naked eye, it has captivated astronomers since ancient times.