Perseus is a constellation in the northern sky, named after the Greek mythological hero Perseus. It is one of the 48 ancient constellations listed by the 2nd-century astronomer Ptolemy, and among the 88 modern constellations defined by the International Astronomical Union (IAU). It is located near several other constellations named after ancient Greek legends surrounding Perseus, including Andromeda to the west and Cassiopeia to the north. Perseus is also bordered by Aries and Taurus to the south, Auriga to the east, Camelopardalis to the north, and Triangulum to the west. Some star atlases during the early 19th century also depicted Perseus holding the disembodied head of Medusa, whose asterism was named together as Perseus et Caput Medusae; however, this never came into popular usage.
Perseus carrying the head of Medusa the Gorgon, as depicted in Urania's Mirror, a set of constellation cards published in London c.1825
The constellation Perseus as it can be seen by the naked eye
The Double Cluster (NGC 869 and NGC 884)
NGC 1333, a nebula in the Perseus molecular cloud featuring glowing gases and pitch-black dust stirred up and blown around by several hundred newly forming stars embedded within the dark cloud.
In Greek mythology, Perseus is the legendary founder of the Perseid dynasty. He was, alongside Cadmus and Bellerophon, the greatest Greek hero and slayer of monsters before the days of Heracles. He beheaded the Gorgon Medusa for Polydectes and saved Andromeda from the sea monster Cetus. He was the son of Zeus and the mortal Danaƫ, as well as the half-brother and great-grandfather of Heracles.
Perseus with the Head of Medusa by Benvenuto Cellini (1554)
Perseo trionfante by Antonio Canova (1801) Musei Vaticani, Rome
Perseus rescuing Andromeda from Cetus, depicted on an amphora in the Altes Museum, Berlin
Perseus and Andromeda, 1st century AD fresco from the Casa della Saffo, Pompeii