Cassiopeia lies near the radiant of the 2026 Perseid meteor shower besides Perseus.
The Perseid radiant is the apparent point from which the meteors seem to fan outward. It is located in the northern sky near Perseus and the distinctive W-shaped constellation Cassiopeia, making both constellations useful landmarks for skywatchers.
A radiant does not mean meteors are confined to that small patch of sky. The particles travel along nearly parallel paths, and perspective makes those paths appear to converge. Meteors can therefore streak across almost any part of the sky.
Observers generally see longer trails when looking away from the radiant, while looking toward it can help confirm which shower a meteor belongs to. Cassiopeia’s bright, recognizable shape makes it a convenient guide for locating the general region.