Gamma Cassiopeia is the middle point of the letter M or W formed by the stars of Cassiopeia, which is in the north-northwest at nightfall. Gamma Cas is the most distant member of that pattern, at 550 light-years.
Weekly Stargazing Tips
Provided by StarDate.org. Unless otherwise specified, viewing times are local time regardless of time zone, and are good for the entire Lower 48 states (and, generally, for Alaska and Hawaii).
April 11: Gamma Cassiopeia
April 12: Tau Boötis
One of the first planets ever found outside our own solar system orbits Tau Boötis, a fairly bright star in Boötes the herdsman. Under dark skies, Tau Boötis is visible to the eye alone, above bright yellow-orange Arcturus, which is in the east at nightfall.
April 13: Coma Berenices
The long-lost tail of the lion climbs high across the sky this month. It's a spray of faint stars that trails behind Leo. Today, it's known as the hair of Queen Berenice of Egypt. Originally, though, it was the tuft of fur at the end of the lion's tail.
April 14: Coma Star Cluster
The Coma star cluster, in the constellation Coma Berenices, consists of hundreds of stars about 280 light-years from Earth. The constellation is high in the east at nightfall. Under dark skies, the cluster is a good target for binoculars.
April 15: Coma Galaxies
The Coma galaxy cluster is one of the closest clusters to Earth. It is in Coma Berenices, which is in the east at nightfall. The cluster is above the brilliant star Arcturus and to the lower left of Leo, the lion. Small telescopes reveal many of the galaxies.
April 16: Alignments
There's a nice planetary alignment in the early morning sky now. Mars, Saturn, and Mercury are close together in the dawn twilight. But they are so low in the sky that you need a clear horizon and binoculars to spot them.
April 17: Morning Meeting
There's a meeting of planets in the dawn sky. It's a bit frustrating because the planets are quite low, so they are hard to see. Mercury is the brightest member of the trio, followed by Saturn, then Mars. The view is best from southern latitudes.