Starwatch: five- star Cassiopeia is a queen chained to her throne

Constellation represents boastful woman punished by Poseidon, and shares mythical roots with its neighbours

This week, search out the constellation Cassiopeia. For northern hemisphere observers it is going to be high in the sky throughout the coming winter months. Indeed, for much of the northern hemisphere, it is a circumpolar constellation visible all year round.

For most southern hemisphere observers, the constellation is never visible. Only those in the southern tropics stand a chance of seeing the star pattern. It will appear low in the northern sky during this month.