Cetus

English name Whale

Major
major alpha Ceti Menkar magn. 2,8 RA: 03h 02m 16.78s Dec: +04° 05' 23.1"
beta Ceti Deneb Kaitos magn. 2,2 RA: 00h 43m 35.35s Dec: -17° 59' 11.9"
omicron Ceti Mira magn. 2,0 RA: 02h 19m 20.73s Dec: -02° 58' 38.9"

Description The constellation of Cetus is crossed in the northern part by equator: it is to the south of ecliptic, under the zodiacal constellations Aries and Pisces.
Though very wide, it hasn't any particular heavenly objects besides a red pulsating star called Mira, that is "marvelous". Mira is an enormous body, with a diameter of 550 millions kilometers, but with a very low superficial temperature (1.900°K): thanks to this temperature in its outer zones there are molecular compounds such as oxide of titanium and water vapor, which darken the star light, making it much less bright than the Sun. But periodically the temperature goes up to 2.700°K, the vapors dissolved and Mira gradually becomes more bright up to 80 times more shining than the Sun; then the temperature returns to decrease, the vapors reformed and brightness returns to very low levels. This cycle lasts about 331 days. We know about 4500 stars which are similar to Mira.

Mythology
and history The constellation of Cetus has traditionally represented the sea monster sent by Poseidon to devastate Cepheus' and Cassiopeia's country. To be placated, it had to receive in sacrifice Andromeda, but while it was preparing to devour the young girl it was petrified by Perseus with Medusa's head.

English name	Whale

Major major	alpha Ceti	Menkar	magn. 2,8	RA: 03h 02m 16.78s	Dec: +04° 05' 23.1"
	beta Ceti	Deneb Kaitos	magn. 2,2	RA: 00h 43m 35.35s	Dec: -17° 59' 11.9"
	omicron Ceti	Mira	magn. 2,0	RA: 02h 19m 20.73s	Dec: -02° 58' 38.9"

Description	The constellation of Cetus is crossed in the northern part by equator: it is to the south of ecliptic, under the zodiacal constellations Aries and Pisces. Though very wide, it hasn't any particular heavenly objects besides a red pulsating star called Mira, that is "marvelous". Mira is an enormous body, with a diameter of 550 millions kilometers, but with a very low superficial temperature (1.900°K): thanks to this temperature in its outer zones there are molecular compounds such as oxide of titanium and water vapor, which darken the star light, making it much less bright than the Sun. But periodically the temperature goes up to 2.700°K, the vapors dissolved and Mira gradually becomes more bright up to 80 times more shining than the Sun; then the temperature returns to decrease, the vapors reformed and brightness returns to very low levels. This cycle lasts about 331 days. We know about 4500 stars which are similar to Mira.

Mythology and history	The constellation of Cetus has traditionally represented the sea monster sent by Poseidon to devastate Cepheus' and Cassiopeia's country. To be placated, it had to receive in sacrifice Andromeda, but while it was preparing to devour the young girl it was petrified by Perseus with Medusa's head.

Cetus

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