Cassiopeia << `kas` ee uh PEE uh >> is an easily seen constellation of the Northern Hemisphere. It is on the side of the North Star opposite the Big Dipper , about the same distance away. It lies directly north of the constellation of Andromeda . In Greek mythology, Cassiopeia was the mother of Andromeda . Cassiopeia is one of 88 constellations recognized by the International Astronomical Union, the leading authority in the naming of heavenly objects.
Five of the brightest stars in Cassiopeia form a large, irregular letter W. This shape has been said to represent Cassiopeia seated on her throne. In 1572, the Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe observed a supernova (exploding star) in this constellation.
