// Constellation
Cetus
“Whale”
- Latin name
- Cetus (Cet)
- Best visibility
- evenings in December
- Fully visible between
- 65° N – 80° S
- Naked-eye stars
- 111
Cetus is highest in the evening sky (around 9 pm) in December. The whole constellation rises above the horizon between 65° N and 80° S. Its brightest star is Diphda at magnitude 2.04 — about 96 light-years away.
The brightest stars
| Star | Designation | Magnitude | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diphda | β Cet | 2.04 | 96 ly |
| Menkar | α Cet | 2.54 | 249 ly |
| — | η Cet | 3.46 | 124 ly |
| Kaffaljidhma | γ Cet | 3.47 | 80 ly |
| — | τ Cet | 3.49 | 12 ly |
| — | ι Cet | 3.56 | 275 ly |
More constellations
Star data: HYG database. Constellation borders: IAU.