According to ancient legends, most of the known constellations are perpetuated by events of the past.Powerful gods were placed on the sky heroes and various creatures in memory of their accomplishments, and sometimes as a punishment for misdeeds.Often thus granted eternal life.Andromeda is one of these celestial figures.Famous for it, however, not only his legend: it hosted famous neighbor of the Milky Way and a few interesting space objects.
mythological story
Andromeda in Greek legends was the daughter of King Cepheus of Ethiopia (Cepheus) and his wife Cassiopeia.There are several variations of the legend associated with the constellation.According to one of them, the beautiful Andromeda was so pretty that she envied sea maiden Nereids.They suffered and languished in her eyes.Poseidon decided to rectify the situation by sending Ethiopia terrible monster.It is every day come ashore and destroyed villages, killing residents.Cepheus consulted the Oracle, and learned that you need to stop the scourge of the monster to give Andromeda.Saddened parents still chained to a rock and the daughter left before the arrival of the monster.But the tragedy did not happen: the aid beauty arrived Perseus flying by and fell in love with Andromeda at a glance.He defeated the monster with the help of the head of Medusa and married the beautiful maiden.Since then, there is a constellation.Perseus and Andromeda is now shining in the heavens.Gods immortalized in the vast expanses of space and Cassiopeia, Cepheus, and even a sea monster.
Location
Andromeda has a well-recognized form of three chains of stars radiating from a single point.This heavenly figure occupies a vast area and is one of the largest in both hemispheres.The brightest star in the constellation Andromeda, one of which begins the chain, located on the border with the Pegasus.Up until the XVII century luminary was regarded as belonging to both the heavenly figures.This star is the northern corner of the Big square of Pegasus.
Andromeda can be admired throughout the vast territory of Russia.In the summer and in September, it is located on the eastern side of the sky, and in the late autumn and early winter - in the southern part of it.
Alpha
The brightest point of this heavenly figure - Alferatz (Alpha Andromeda).Finally, she was assigned as part of the described constellation in 1928.In Ptolemy Alferatz owned Pegasus.The name itself testifies to the history of the luminaries, it means in Arabic "the navel of the horse."
Alferatz is a blue and white subgiant emitting 200 times more light than the sun.In addition, it is the main component of the binary system.His companion shines 10 times less.
Alferatz A - one of the most prominent representatives of an unusual class of mercury-manganese stars.High concentration of metals in the atmosphere, made in the name of the type, the difference is explained by the effects of gravity of light and its internal pressure to various chemical elements.
Alferatz also refers to the variable stars.The range of brightness - from +2,02 m to +2,06 m.Changes occur with a period of 23.19 hours.
Nebula
Andromeda many know not by imposing size and beauty of the stars, but because it is located on the territory of the M31.The famous neighbor of the Milky Way - one of the few such objects that can be seen with the naked eye.Andromeda is located slightly above the star Mirach (Beta Andromedae).In order to examine the structure of the galaxy would take at least a pair of binoculars.
Andromeda more than twice the size of the Milky Way and has about 1 trillion stars.Next to it are also located two satellites: galaxies M32 and NGC 205. The distance from the Sun to three objects than 2 million light years.
Supernova
Andromeda has been the object of observation sets of astronomers in 1885.Then it lit up with a flash of a supernova.It was the first such object found outside the Milky Way.Supernova S Andromeda galaxy is located in the same name and is still the only such space in her body.Maximum light shone reached 21-22 August 1885 (he was 5,85 m).After six months, he has been reduced to 14 m.
Today S Andromedae is classified as a supernova type Ia, though its orange color and light curve does not conform to the description of such objects.
constellation Andromeda, photo objects, its components, the image of a nearby galaxy often flashed in the media.This is not surprising: the vast space occupied by the heavenly pattern can tell a lot about the laws of space and the relationship of its parts.This target many telescopes in hopes of getting new information about remote sites.
