The New Student's Reference Work/Cassiopeia

Cassiopeia (kas-sĭ-o-pē′ yȧ), a constellation in the northern hemisphere, not far from the north pole.  It is marked by five stars of the third magnitude, forming a figure like a W.  In 1572 there appeared in this constellation a new star, which, when first noticed by Tycho Brahe, exceeded in brightness all the fixed stars and nearly equaled Venus.  The star gradually diminished in magnitude, and disappeared in March, 1584.