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Hi, my name is Philip Reed. I live on an island just off the southern coast of England, it's called the Isle of Wight. This is the place where Anthony Minghella, you must have heard of him, the director of the film 'The English Patient', grew up, and his family still lives here, they're heavily into making ice cream, and I mean really heavily. Anyway, as I was saying, the islands is a quiet little place and extremely beautiful in late spring, and even better throughout the summer right through to mid autumn. It's basic income is tourism, people come here in the summer by the thousands, and it's become one of southern Englands favourite resorts. If your the sort of person who loves the sea, then you'd love it here, because no matter where you are on the island you' re only fifteen minutes from the sea. I am not an expert as far as astronomy goes, but I do enjoy the subject, and this site is for anyone else who enjoys this subject as well. It may not be completely accurate, but I have tried to make it as close as I possibly could, with the information at my disposal. If any of the facts on this site are incorrect then please contact me at my e-mail address (shown at the foot of this page). All advise would be gratefully received, and if I have the time, acknowledged.
From our earliest days here on Earth, as our planet moves through this dark void which surrounds us, and let us be perfectly honest; can we really perceive the dark void that surrounds us? Aren't we usually in the habit of perceiving ourselves 'down' on this planet of ours, looking 'up' at the sky, that huge void that is azure-blue during the day and
studded with thousands of stars during the night?
Clouds, rainbows, the northern lights, the sun and the moon and the stars all appear in the sky, which takes on the appearance of an immensely high dome which reaches from horizon to horizon. The way we view the sky totally depends on each one of us. Will we as people be satisfied with the idea of a dome above the Earth or shall we try for a more spacial perspective?
We seem to view the sky like some huge natural planetarium with a program that never stops, proberly the closest thing we will ever find to perpetual motion. In nature, just as in a regular planetarium, all of us, easily succomb to the illusion that the huge dome over our heads revolves constantly during our lives, from east to west, and carrying with it the sun, moon and stars. When you consider that the domes in, even the largest planetarium, measure between 20 and 25 metres in diameter, whereas the natural 'celestial dome' is infinite in diameter. In astronomical terminology this is referred to as the celestial sphere. Now on this celestial sphere of infinite diameter are projected all celestial objects without any regard for their size or distance.
Orientation in the celestial sphere is based on the four cardinal points, which can always be easily determined by one of several common methods (by means of the Sun and a watch, the compass or the North Star). By getting to know the constellations will help you in finding your way around the heavens. You will see that many mythological beings, animals and objects, are outlined by the stars. These are the product of mans imagination, and you will find that the northern constellations were given there names thousands of year ago.
Every amateur astronomer should, at least, be able to identify the more important stars, and constellations. These amateurs should readily recognise such constellation names as, The Great Bear, Cassiopeia, Andromeda, Perseus, Taurus, and Orion, and such stars as Altair, Capella, Arcturus, Sirius, Betelgeux, Rigel and of course Polaris the polestar. Hopefully this web page will assist you in becoming familiar with some of the many celestial objects that surround us, and seem to, in some mystical way, control our very lives. The data on this site is as accurate as I can make it, so if it doesn't comply with yours then make your own web page.
Below you will find many of the strange and wonderful objects that can be found in the night sky, if of course you know where to look, and a list of the constellations and a number of the major stars that go to make them up. Also you will find additional information on the stars themselves, and, hopefully, some snippets on the constellations. Please enjoy, and if you have any tips you'd care to add then please drop me a line.
The Horsehead Nebula
The Horsehead Nebula
There is a dark cloud of dust in the shape of a horse's head in the constellation of Orion. It is known as, surprisingly, the 'Horsehead Nebula' and it protrudes into another nebula known as IC 434. Now IC 434 is a very bright emission nebula, which silhouettes the 'Horsehead' perfectly.
The 'Horsehead' itself appears virtually opaque, and there are no background stars visible through it. As for IC 434 seems to emit light due to the closeness of the bright star 'Sigma Orionis', although 'Zeta Orionis', which is the eastern most star in Orion's belt, and is much brighter and closer than Sigma, but it doesn't effect the nebula anywhere near as much, because it's ultraviolet light emissions aren't as strong as Sigma's. This nebula is expanding, and as it expands it collides with the large dust cloud, which fills the eastern quadrant of Orion. The boundary of the cosmic collision can easily be seen by the rim of bright light at the edge of IC 434.
In this collision, droplets of the dense dark cloud are gradually penetrating the lesser dense and lighter nebula. Of all the dark areas known to astronomers the 'Horsehead' is the largest. Later the dark clouds droplets detach and then they are called globules. It is thought that these globules may be the very first stage in the formation of a new star. This view is not held of course by all astronomers, some think they will just disperse into interstellar space.
John Duncan and Henry Curtis are two American Astronomers who have proved that the 'Horsehead's' dark cloud was not just due to the total lack of stars behind it, but they believe that there is something dark between us and the nebula. What ever that dark substance is, if you believe their findings, is a bit of a mystery as yet.
The Helix Nebula
NGC 7293, which is the New General Catalogue number for 'The Helix Nebula', as all budding astronomers probably know. This is a planetary nebula, which is a bit vague really because planetary nebulae have nothing to do with planets, and are not really nebulae, the fact of the matter is that the word nebulae is from the Latin and means, roughly translated, cloudy, which refers to any fussy, blurry, misty object in the entire universe. Why it refers to planetary is also a misnomer, and to find out why, you'd have to ask William Herschel who originally named them back around AD 1785. Anyway, back to 'The Helix Nebula'. It is thought that the nebula is the nearest to earth, because it appears very bright, and also has the largest angular size of any nebula known, about half a degree, this means it about the size of the full moons disk.
The helix only becomes clear when long exposed and deep photegraphs are taken, and has an appearance of a bright ring with the star that originally ejected the expanding ring, at its center. Looking closely at the helix, several star can be seen in the general direction of the central star, but the central star was chosen for several reasons. Firstly, it is right in the middle of the expanding gas. Secondly, if you look very closely to the inner edge of the ring you will observe lines of material, like streaks, all pointing back the way they came, and they all point to the central star. Finally, most 'Milky Way' stars are relatively cool, but the central stars spectral class shows it to be very hot, just like other central stars in other nebula's.
If you imagine some one smoking a cigarette, and puffing smoke rings, as the smoke moves away the ring becomes larger and larger, and the helix is like a giant cosmic smoke ring, becoming larger and larger as the material in the ring moves further and further away from the central star. Astronomers have, by using the doppler shift on the spectral lines in the gas, observed that this ring is racing away from its center at a speed of 20 - 40 km/sec.
This nebulae's appearance is of two overlapping rings, or, as the name states, a helix. This effect is thought to have been caused by the smoke ring being thrown off in the orbital plane of a companion star circling the main star. There is absolutely no evidence that the main star is a double, although other planetary nebulae's are known to be binaries. The materials in most planetary nebulae's expands at a rate of a few tens of km per second, this speed is comparable with the orbital velocity of a star around its companion. So if material is ejected over and even short period of time, say hours instead of days, then the motion of the star as it travels through space can change appreciably. The velocity of the orbital star is added to the speed of the material ejected in different directions, so after a few thousand years, when the nebula is observed, the material that has been ejected at different times is separated by a visible amount. If the material of the star is not ejected exactly in the orbital plane of the star, there will be an apparent twist in the rings of ejected materials.
The Crab Nebula
Just slightly north-east of zeta tauri and at a distance from earth of approximately 6000 l/y, lies the super-nove remnant called the 'Crab Nebula'. This super-nova was first discovered by John Bevis in the early part of the 18th century. Charles Messier rediscovered it in AD 1758, while watching for 'Halley's Comet' to reappear, and is now the first object in Messier's catalogue of nebulae.
Today the 'Crab Nebula' is one of the strongest radio sources known, and the new breed of radio astronomers refer to it as 'Taurus A'. It was first recognised as a radio source by John Bolton in 1948.
What you actually see when you look at the nebula, is all the expanding filaments, which are the thrown off remains of the exploded star of AD 1054. All this material is now speeding away from ground zero if you like, at a speed in excess of 1500 kilometres a second, this is so fast that even over the period of one generation it can be seen to perceptibly grow larger.
All this material is speeding away from the center of the nebula where what's left of the star remains, and this area is very active and tends to fluctuates in brightness. There are actually several stars at the center of the nebula and the fluctuating brightnees seems to mainly come from one particular star. This star is way down at magnitude 16, and was discovered in 1968 and is definitely what remains of the original star, which is now a pulsar, which means a star that pulsates, usually at regular intervals.
Up until recently it was believed that the star went super-nova around AD 1054, but careful analysis of the rate it is expansion puts the date quite a bit later, around AD 1140. This was found to be rather strange because it is the opposite of what astronomers expected. In most super-nova, and come to that any other explosion, the expanding material tends to slow down as it comes in to contact with other materials it collides with, and using this theory it would normally be thought that the actual explosion was probably earlier than at first predicted. In the case of the 'Crab Nebula', because astronomers have now predicted the initial explosion as much later than first thought, the expanding material is being accelerated, they have discovered that the pulsar is the cause, because it's throwing energy into the nebula at an amazing rate.
The Orion Nebula
The large central star in Orion's Sword is Theta1, which is one of four stars that make up the 'Trapezium'. These stars are surrounded by a huge luminous gas cloud known as the 'Orion Nebula'. This nebula was first discovered be N. Peiresc in AD 1610. Peiresc used a telescope that Galileo gave him. Messier place the nebula in his catalogue as M 42 - M 43, M 43 being the more northerly part of the same nebula, although M 43 wasn't discovered until AD 1731, by de Mairan.
'Orion's Nebula' can easily be seen with the unaided eye on very clear nights, and much, much better with the use of binoculars. This nebula has the greatest surface brightness of any nebula seen from earth, and has been studied far more than any other. Because of all the x-rays, infrared, optical and radio emissions, many astronomers have revealed a great many facts about it, this means they know far more about this nebula than any other and ask far more questions concerning it.
The nebula itself lies at a distance of 1300 l/y, and is actually encircle by a cluster of stars, these stars are known as the 'Orion Cluster'. The cluster actually lies slightly behind the nebula, which is at this time the largest dark cloud region in our galaxy. It is also known that many stars are actually forming deep inside the nebula, which makes it a kind of nursery for new, young stars. It is also believed that about 100,000 years ago the stars that go to make up the 'Trapezium' were born from this very nursery. These star are very, very hot, and are gradually burning a hole through the cloud, which is ionizing the gas and blowing the obscurring dust away. In astronomical terms it wasn't that long ago when part of the expanding cloud burst, a bit like a bubble, and the interior of the nebula was finally visible, it was at this time that the 'Trapezium' became visible.
The mass of dark matter that surrounds the nebula seems rather opaque to visible light, and out of any light that falls upon it, barely one-million-million-millionth will actually pass through. This doesn't really matter because it has been viewed with infrared and radio observations, and these are not impeded by dust.
The Ring Nebula
Messier placed into his catalogue at number 57, 'The Ring Nebula', which is another fine example of a planetary nebula. You will find 'The Ring Nebula' in the constellation of Lyra, and it has always been a special object to observe for most amateur astronomers, this is because it is fairly bright and can be observed easily with small telescopes. The ring was first observed by Antoine Darguier in AD 1779, and he wrote that it was very similar to a fading planet the size of Jupiter. Later when the same object was observed by William Herschel, and he saw it as a rather misty, fading object, it gained his usual reference of planetary nebula.
There are, like with most galactic objects, three ways to refer to this nebula. We have it's proper name, 'The Ring Nebula', and also it is refered as M 57, and of course there is its NGC number, which is NGC 6720. The ring lies at a distance of 2000 l/y from earth, and has an elliptical shape to it, and looks very much like a donut with a slightly declining angle. The central star like most central stars in nebulae, is extremely hot, in fact it is definitely one of the hottest star of any nebula. The central stars spectal class is very similar to that of many white dwarf stars, and most astronomers believe that white dwarf star go through this stage of planetary nebula's.
The ring isn't consistant with most other planetary nebulae, and although its outer edge is clean and sharp, which makes it easy to follow its rate of expansion, the material that goes to make up the bulk of the ring is full of large lumps and filaments. The ring is expanding at around 19 km/sec, which is about 60-millionths the speed of light. The diameter of the ring is roughly two thirds of a light year in distance, and taking its speed and size into account, this would have taken some 5500 years to reach its present size. Now, if the expansion rate has been uniform, this will give us the actual age of the nebula.
If you examine the image above you will see how the inner edge is green, and the outer edge is red, and the reason for the different colours is the required energy needed to make different gases glow. What this means is that the inner edge, which is much nearer the central star and its output of ultraviolet radiation, and because the radiation effects the oxygen and nitrogen atoms, which are abundant there, glows green. The outer edge being much further from the radiation and receive far less energy, glows red because the weaker energy only excites the hydrogen atoms which dominate.
The Trifid & Lagoon Nebula
In the constellation of 'Sagittarius' just south east of Mu(m), this all depends on which way you are looking at it of course, there are two nebulae. As you can see, on our left we have 'The Trifid Nebula' and on our right 'The Lagoon Nebula', these two nebulae lie very close in the sky to one another. Now, we'll start with the Trifid, or NGC 6514, or M 20. This is a large area of hydrogen gas and like many nebula, its glow is due to the very bright hot star at its center, this star is known as HD 164492. If you look at the Trifid you will see that it is intersected by lanes of darker material, which cut it into three clear sections, this is why it was called Trifid, because it is Latin for 'cleft into three'.
Just to the east in the image above there is another nebula, which is a blue gas cloud, and although this nebula appears to glow, the central star is just not hot enough to cause the hydrogen atoms to give of their own light. So the light is reflected light, which comes from the dust and gas surrounding the Trifid. This second nebula only appears blue, because it contains such large particles that they only scatter blue light, this is the same as the sun through the earths atmosphere, and why our sky is blue.
The central star which causes the Trifid to glow is one of four stars, a bit like the 'Trapezium' in Orion, but unlike the 'Trapezium' in Orion two of this quartet are actually double stars, and they lie at a distance of 4500 l/y. All these stars are very young stars and were formed some seven million years ago, now you may not consider this as young but as our own sun was formed some 4.5 billion years ago, these stars are very young indeed.
Now we have 'The Lagoon Nebula', or NGC 6523, or M 8. This region was recently formed, and contains young stars, gas, and clouds of dark matter. As you view the image above you can see thousands of stars, most of which make up the 'Milky Way', which intersects 'Sagittarius'. This nebula, like the group of stars in the Trifid, lies at 4500 l/y distance, and has a star cluster at its center, which is known as NGC 6530, and was discovered by the English astronomer John Flamsteed in AD 1680, although the actual nebula was discovered over 60 years later by the French astronomer Le Gentil.
The central cluster is very young, and has been estimated at only two million years since it was formed, and unlike many nebulae, the gas in the Lagoon is the left over gas after the cluster was formed. The hydrogen in the remaining cloud is gradually spreading outward from the cluster, like ripples on a pond, and this is coursed by the radiating heat from the cluster.
The Pleiades
When you look up in to the night sky at the constellation of 'Taurus', you will clearly see just off to one side a small cluster of blue stars, this cluster is known as 'The Pleiades'. Even with the naked eye the brightest six stars can been seen fairly easily, and even with a small telescope the cluster opens up beautifully. Now, down through history 'The Pleiades' was always associated with seven sisters, or doves, and although nine of the stars have actually been named, since ancient times the seventh has probably faded, this is the star 'Pleione', although it's not quite certain because more than six stars have been seen by keen sighted people. Around the mid to late 16th century a man called Mastlin, he was the man that taught the German astronomer Johannes Kepler, put down on paper eleven of 'The Pleiades' main stars, all in their correct positions, and this was 30 years before the telescope was invented. Galileo, who invented one of the first ever telescopes, viewed Pleiades and counted over 30 stars. Today it has been discovered that 'The Pleiades' has somewhere between three to five hundred stars in the cluster, which lies around 400 l/y from earth, and now, well over 250 of these stars have actually been catalogued.
If you can view the Pleiades cluster through a telescope, you will not fail to notice that the star seem surrounded by a bluish nebulosity, which seems to glow. This fine, gaseous filament only appears to glow, due to the nearby stars, the gas is cold and filled with dust particles. The reason this gaseous filament appears blue is basically because the nearby stars are blue, and that the light from the stars, when reflected through the dust particles, has an intense blue colour.
The star Pleione, which has faided some what, although it can still be seen, probably threw of its outer layer in the late thirties, and again in the early seventies. This is said to have started firstly around 1888, and is thought that all heavy stars seem to suffer from hiccups throught their lives, this usually occurs when the star begins to exhaust its supply of hydrogen. Stars like this will end up as white dwarf stars.
The Rosette
This is a very beautiful nebula, which lies in the constellation Monoceros. The brighter outer layers of this nebula were originally discovered when the area was scanned by telescopes, and were given the catalogue numbers of NGC 2237, 2238, 2239 and 2246. The group of stars at its center were discovered by the the first British Astronomer Royal, John Flamsteed, and was given the catalogue number NGC 2244.
At first sighting it would appear to have a striking resemblance to a planetary nebula, a little like the famous 'Ring Nebula', but at closer inspection it is a lot larger, and definitely far more massive. Most planetary nebula surround just one star but the 'Rosette' has many stars at its center. It is a very hot area, consisting of ionized hydrogen, and this hydrogen is surrounded by neutral hydrogen gas, which is much colder. The cause of the heat and the ionization are the two brightest stars in the group. There is, also, a bright fifth magnitude star, 12 Monoceros, which is also a naked eye object, which is not, in anyway, connected to the nebula, it just lies in the same direction and is much closer to us.
All the stars in the group at the center of the 'Rosette Nebula' are very young stars, around 500,000 years old, which in star age, is very young. The gas itself is embedded with particles of cold dust. Quite a few astronomers were surprised to find a hot nebula embedded with cold particles, and these particles become rather dense in places, which gives the nebula the appearance of having black shadows.
So, here we have a nebula, which is composed of hot gas, and this gas is surrounded by much cooler hydrogen. This means the hot gas is under far more pressure than the cold, which means the nebula is slowly expanding into space.
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| Constellation Links | Predominate***Star Names | Stars *Spectral* Type | Lightyears from Earth | Apparent Magnitudes | Absolute Magnitudes | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Andromeda |
a Alpheratz b Mirach g Almaak d e h x |
A0 M0 K2 K3 G8 G8 K1 |
72 l/y 88 l/y 120 l/y 156 l/y 130 l/y 112 l/y 153 l/y |
2.06 var 2.02 2.14 mlt 3.27 4.37 4.42 4.06 var |
-0.1 0.2 -2.4 -0.2 0.3 1.8 -2.2 |
A large and important northern constellation; one of Ptolemy's 'originals'. It also contains the Great Spiral galaxy, M.31. One of the leading stars in Andromeda is a Alpheratz. This star is actually apart of the Square of Pegasus. Andromeda was, in mythology, the beautiful daughter of King Cepheus and Queen Cassiopeia. The queen offended Neptune by boasting of her daughters great beauty, as a punishment Neptune ordered that Andromeda was chained to the rocks as a sacrifice. |
Antlia |
a e i q |
M0 M0 G2 A5 |
275 l/y 315 l/y 185 l/y ` 736 l/y |
4.42 4.64 4.70 5.6-9.7 dbl |
-0.6 -0.8 0.4 0.3 |
A small southern constellation covering 239 square degrees, and was added to the night sky by Lacaille in 1752. Its origonal name was Antlia Pneumatica. It contains no stars above magnitude 4.4. It also contains NGC 2997, a faint spiral galaxy with a stellar nucleus and is hard to see with small telescopes. |
Apus |
a b g d |
K5 K0 K0 M4-K5 |
220 l/y 135 l/y 46 l/y |
3.81 4.16 3.90 |
-0.5 1.5 1.4 |
Apus was originally called Avis Indica and was introduced by Bayer in 1603. It lies in the far south, and has only two stars brighter than magnitude 4.Apus lies less than 20o from the south celestial pole. Apus comes from the ancient Greek word, meaning 'footless', and derives from India's bird of paradise. |
Aquarius |
a Sadalmelik b Sadalsuud g Sadachiba e Albali d Scheat q Ancha |
G2 G0 A0 A1 A2 G8 |
945 l/y 980 l/y 91 l/y 110 l/y 98 l/y 84 l/y |
2.96 2.86 3.97 var 3.83 3.28 4.16 |
-4.6 -4.6 1.9 0.2 1.2 1.8 |
This is one of the most ancient constellations in the night sky, and is one of Ptolemy's originals. There are seven stars brighter than magnitude 4.0. Aquarius has been associated with Ganymede, the cup-bearer of Olympus. Aquarius is the first constellation of the Indian and the Chinese calendars. The messier object M2 is a globular star cluster, which appears as a fuzzy ball when viewed with binoculars or a small telescope. |
Aquila |
a Altair b Alshain g Tarazed z Dheneb l Althalimain d |
A7 G8 K3 B9 B8.5 F0 |
16.5 l/y 36 l/y 285 l/y 105 l/y 97 l/y 52 l/y |
0.77 3.90 dbl 2.67 2.99 dbl 3.44 3.36 |
2.3 3.3 -2.4 0.8 0.0 2.1 |
This is one of the most distinctive of the northern constellations, and of course an original. It represents an eagle which was sent by Jupiter to collect a Phrygian shepherd-boy,Ganymede, who was destined to be cup bearer to the gods of Olympus. Two novae have been discovered in Aquila, the first back in 389 and was brighter than Venus. The second as recently as 1918 and, like Altair, had a magnitude brighter than 0.7. |
Ara |
a Choo b g |
B3 K3 B1 |
190 l/y 780 l/y 1100 l/y |
2.95 var 2.90 3.32 |
-2.4 -4.6 -3.3 |
The group of faint stars we now know as Ara were once considered part of the constellations Centaurus and Lupus. It became seperated from them when the constellation Norma was interposed. |
Aries |
a Hamal b Sheratan g Mesartim d Botein |
K2 A5 A0+A0 K2 |
85 l/y 46 l/y 115 l/y 255 l/y |
2.00 2.68 4.81 dbl 4.38 |
0.2 1.7 1.5 -0.1 |
Aries is still considered the first sign of the zodiac, and was once most important for the calender. It has retained its place even though the vernol equinox has since shifted. Aries represents a golden fleece, sent by the god Mercury to rescue the two children of the king of Thebes. |
Auriga |
a Capella b Menkarlina i Hassaleh z Sadatoni |
G8+F0 A0 K3 K4+B7 |
42 l/y 72 l/y 265 l/y 520 l/y |
0.05 1.86 e/bin 2.64 3.7 var |
-0.6 -0.3 -2.4 -5.0 |
The original Greek name for Auriga was Heniochos, 'One who holds the reins', hence charioteer. a Capellais its chief star. Capella was the nymph Amalthea whom Jupiter rewarded by placing her among the stars. Capella has been seen as the she-goat star since Roman times |
Bootes |
a Arcturus b Nekkar g Seginus e Izar m1 Alkalurops d |
K2 G8 A7 K0+A2 F0 G8 |
36 l/y 135 l/y 105 l/y 150 l/y 59 l/y 140 l/y |
-0.4 3.48 3.0 2.6 tpl 4.3 tpl 3.47 |
-0.3 0.3 0.2 0.0 2.1 0.3 |
An original constellation, dominated by Arcturus. There are various myths attached to it, but none is very definite. One version say he was a herdsman who invented the plough, which was drawn by two oxen, for this service he was placed in the heavens. There are eight stars above magnitude 4.00. To locate Bootes in the night sky follow the three stars in the handle of the Great Bear then arc to Arcturus and then you're there. |
Caelum |
a b g |
F2 F8 K5 |
65 l/y 55 l/y 170 l/y |
4.52 var 5.08 4.62 |
2.8 3.7 0.3 |
This entirely unremarkable constellation was introduced in 1752 by Lacaille, under the name of Caela Sculptoris. It has no star brighter than the fourth magnitude, and only two which are brighter than the fifth. R Caeli, this is a bright Mira-type variable, which changes from 6.7 to 13.7 in a 13 month period. |
Camelopardus |
a b g H |
O9 G0 A3 B9 |
2800 l/y 1500 l/y 185 l/y 3520 l/y |
4.38 4.0 4.67 4.21 |
-6.3 -5.2 -0.3 -7.1 |
A very barren northern constellation. It was introduced to the sky be Hevelius in 1690, and some historians have maintained that it represents the camel which carried Rebecca to Isaac! You should note that several of the apparently faint stars are actually highly luminous. |
Cancer |
a Acubens b g Asellus-Bore. z Tegmine d Asellus-Aust |
A3 K4 A1 F7+G2 K0 |
75 l/y 170 l/y 155 l/y 52 l/y 155 l/y |
4.27 3.55 4.73 4.70 mlt 3.91 |
0.9 -0.4 0.5 3.2/4.1 0.0 |
Cancer is an obscure constellation, redeemed only by the presence of two famous star clusters, Praesepe and M.67. However, it lies in the Zodiac, and it has a legend attached to it. The crab was said to have been sent to help the hydra against Hercules, but Hercules trod on it. Juno, queen of Olympus, placed it into the heavens as a tribute. |
Canis Venatici |
a Cor Caroli b Chara CVn 20 |
A0+F0 G0 F0 |
65 l/y 30 l/y 166 l/y |
2.90 dbl 4.32 4.73 |
0.1 4.5 -0.7 |
Another of Hevelius's constellations, and represents two hunting dogs called, Asterion and Chara, which are supposed to be held by the herdsman Bootes. It contains some interesting objects, such as M.3 and M.51 or the 'Whirlpool Galaxy'. |
Canis Major |
a Sirius b Mirzam g Muliphen d Wezea e Adhara z Phurad |
A1 B1 B8 F8 B2 B3 |
8.7 l/y 715 l/y 1000 l/y 3000 l/y 490 l/y 285 l/y |
-1.42 1.96 var 4.12 1.85 1.48 3.04 |
1.45 -4.8 -0.9 -7.1 -5.1 -2.4 |
The Great Dog was once the name given to Sirius, the constellations brightest star, and also the brightest star in the night sky. Of even more interest is Sirius's companion, Sirius B It is a white dwarf and has a density more than 90,000 times greater than our own Sun. Sirius B revolves around its primary star once every 50 years. During summer months Sirius is a daytime star, so it cannot be observed at night. |
Canis Minor |
a Procyon b Gomeisa g |
F5 B8 K3 |
11.4 l/y 135 l/y 210 l/y |
0.40 2.90 4.35 |
2.7 -1.1 0.2 |
Because it precede the rising of Canis Major with Sirius on the tip of its nose it's called Pro Tu Kynos by the Greeks, meaning 'before the Great Dog' hence calling its main star a Procyon, because Procyon means 'before the dog'. |
Capricornus |
a Al Giedi b Dabih g Nashira d Deneb Algiedi e |
G3+G9 G0+B9 F0 A7 B3 |
1600 l/y 100 l/y 59 l/y 50 l/y 815 l/y |
4.2 dbl 3.44 mlt 3.71 3.0 4.72 |
-3.1 0.1 1.2 2.0 -1.0 |
This is probably the oldest recognised constellation, which was found on acient Babylonian tablets approximately 3000 years old. This Zodiacal constellation, though by no means brilliant, has been identified with the demigod Pan. Some ancient myths say Capricornus was the gate of the gods in the sky for the souls of mortals to pass through after death. |
Carina |
a Canopus b Miaplacidus e Avior q i Tureis |
F0 A0 K0 B0 F0 |
1200 l/y 85 l/y 200 l/y 750 l/y 815 l/y |
-0.72 1.71 1.93 2.79 2.33 |
-7.0 -0.4 -3.1 -4.0 -4.6 |
Carina is the keel of the ship Argo, in which Jason and his argonauts sailed upon their successful, if somewhat unprincipled, expedition to remove the Golden Fleece of the sacred ram 'Aries' from its grove. Carina is the brightest part of Argo, and contains a Canopus, which is second only to Sirius in brilliance, and used for celestial navigation. |
Cassiopeia |
a Shedir b Chaph g Cih d Ruchbah e Segin h Achird q Marfak z |
K0 F2 B0 A5 B3 F8+M5 A7 B2 |
120 l/y 42 l/y 780 l/y 62 l/y 520 l/y 19 l/y 120 l/y 554 l/y |
2.2 var 2.3 2.5 var 2.71 3.44 3.42 4.33 3.67 |
-1.1 1.6 var 2.1 -2.7 4.8 2.4 -2.5 |
Tycho Brahe observed, in 1572, a supernova in Cassiopeia, which reached a brightness of -4.0. Cassiopeia was Adromeda's mother and the wife of Cepheus. It was her boasting which led to the unfortunate contretemps with Neptune's sea monster. There are several open star clusters in this constellation, and two planetary nebulae. You will discover a very rich group of over 100 stars in this constellation, said to be one of the richest groups in the northern hemesphere, this is M.52 and only one of several cluster in Cassiopeia. |
Centaurus |
a Rigil b Agena g Menkent z Alnair q |
G2+K1 B1 A0+A0 B2 K0 |
4.3 l/y 455 l/y 110 l/y 360 l/y 46 l/y |
-0.2 mlt 0.6 dbl 3.0 dbl 2.64 2.15 |
4.39 -5.2 -0.5 -3.4 1.0 |
Centaurus contains the second nearest star to Earth, the first being the Sun of course, and the finest of all globular star clusters, NGC 5139 or w Centauri. It was called w Centauri because it was thought to be, originally, a single star, until Edmund Halley discovered in 1677 that it was actually a large star cluster. |
Cepheus |
a Alderamin b Alphirk g Alrai x Kurdah m The 'Garnet' star d Prototype Cepheid |
A7 B2+A3 K0 F8+F8 M2 F8 |
49 l/y 750 l/y 46 l/y 120 l/y 1564 l/y 1336 l/y |
2.40 3.30 dbl 3.41 4.33 dbl var var |
1.4 -4.1 2.2 2.3 -7.0 -4.6 |
Cepheus was the father to Andromeda, and Cassiopeia husband. It contains 8 stars above the 4th magnitude, although the 'Garnet Star', m , is an irregular variable. Cepheid variables are important yard sticks in the calculations of comparing absolute and apparent magnitudes to obtain a stars distance. This is an inconspicuous group of stars, and easy to find, lying as they do on the open side of Cassiopeia. |
Cetus |
a Menkar b Deneb Kaitos g Kaffaljidhma z Baten Kaitos o Mira i Shemali |
M2 K0 A2+F7 K2 M9 K2 |
130 l/y 68 l/y 75 l/y 190 l/y 130 l/y 163 l/y |
2.51 2.0 3.73 dbl 3.72 2.41 var 3.56 |
-0.5 0.2 1.4 -0.1 -0.5 -0.1 |
Cetus represents the sea monster sent to destroy the princess Andromeda, until Perseus came to her rescue. o Cetus which is better known as Mira, meaning the amazing one, was the first variable star ever discoved( by David Fabricius in 1596). Ceti t is a yellow dwarf very much like our own sun, and radio astronomers have been searching this area for signs of alien life. It contains several galaxies, M.77 being the brightest. |
Chamaeleon |
a b g |
F6 B6 M0 |
72 l/y 390 l/y 280 l/y |
4.10 4.32 4.16 |
2.5 -0.9 -0.4 |
One of the faintest groups of stars in the night sky, although unlike many other constellations it has kept its original name. It was discovered by Johann Bayer in the late 16th century, after early south sea explorers describe its appearance. It has no stars above the 4th magnitude. |
Circinus |
a b g |
F0+K5 A3 B5 |
65 l/y 72 l/y 275 l/y |
3.2+8.6 4.14 4.53 |
2.6 1.7 -1.0 |
A very small southern constellation, in the area of a and b Centauri. It was discovered by Lacaille in 1756. The only star above magnitude 4 is a. It's the fourth smallest of all constellations. Circinus contains nothing of any interest, although a is in the same low-power binocular field as a Centauri. |
Columba |
a Phakt b Wazn g |
B8 K2 B3 |
170 l/y 130 l/y 685 l/y |
2.64 3.12 4.36 |
-0.2 -0.1 -2.3 |
Columba is a modern constellation dating from 1679, when it was introduced to the sky by Royer. It represents the dove Noah released from the Ark. It was originally called Columba Noachi. |
Coma Berenices |
a Diadem b g R |
F5 G0 K1 M3 |
64 l/y 27 l/y 260 l/y *** l/y |
4.35 4.26 4.39 7.3-14.6 var |
-0.2 4.7 3.4 *** |
This constellation was originally a part of Leo, until 1551 when Mercator seperated them. Berenice, wife to king Ptolemy, cut of her lovely hair and placed it in the temple of Venus. The hair vanished and the king was about to put the temple guards to death, but was told that Aphrodite had placed it in the night sky for all to see. It also contains a galactic cluster, and the Black Eye galaxy, M64. |
Corona Australis |
a b g d |
A2 G5 F8 K0 |
140 l/y 270 l/y 68 l/y 205 l/y |
4.11 4.11 4.21 dbl 4.61 |
1.6 0.3 4.0 0.2 |
There are various tales relating to this constellation. One is that it was the crown worn by Chiron the Centaur, or the crown placed into the sky by Bacchus after he rescued his mother from the underworld. The globular star cluster NGC 6541 is easily seen with a small telescope. With an 8inch telescope or above you begin to resolve the edge into stars. |
Corona Borealis |
a Alphekka b Nusakan g z1 |
A0 F0 A0 B7 |
75 l/y 59 l/y 210 l/y 416 l/y |
2.23 var 3.68 3.84 dbl 4.72 |
0.6 1.2 -0.3 -0.6 |
Several hundred galaxies have been discovered in and around this constellation. This is the crown Bacchus gave Ariadne, the daughter of King Minos of Crete. Dionysus proposed to Ariadne but she was reluctant to except because he was in mortal form. It has three stars above magnitude 4. a is an eclipsing binary with a very small range. |
Corvus |
a Alkhiba b Kraz g Gienah d Algorel |
F2 G5 B8 B9+K2 |
52 l/y 265 l/y 220 l/y 115 l/y |
4.02 2.65 2.59 2.95 dbl |
1.9 -2.1 -1.2 0.2 |
Corvus is distinctive, since it's leading stars form a trapezium. The crow was sent by Apollo to spy on Coronis, she was the mother of the great doctor AEsculapius. To be candid the crows report was decidedly adverse, so Apollo had him banished to the sky. |
Crater |
a Alkes b g |
K0 A2 A5 |
165 l/y 721 l/y 75 l/y |
4.08 4.48 4.08 |
0.2 0.2 2.1 |
Like Corvus, this is a small constellation adjoining Hydra. The cup has been associated with the Olympian gods, especially Bacchus, it has also been link to the crow, and Hydra the sea serpent. Alkes is from the Arabic, meaning wine cup or basin. |
Crux |
a Acrux b Mimosa g Gacrux d |
B1+B3 B0 M4+A2 B2 |
520 l/y 490 l/y 105 l/y 460 l/y |
1.41 dbl 1.25 var 1.63 dbl 2.80 |
-3.4/-3.9 -5.0 -0.5 -3.0 |
Though Crux is the smallest constellation in the entire sky, it is also one of the most famous. As well as its brilliant stars it contains the 'Jewel Box' cluster, and also the dark nebula known as the 'Coal Sack'. Crux was originally part of Centaurus, until Royer introduced it in 1679. |
Cygnus |
a Deneb b Albireo g Sadr d e Gienah |
A2 K3+B8 F8 A0 K0 |
1700 l/y 390 l/y 550 l/y 190 l/y 75 l/y |
1.25 3.08 dbl 2.20 2.87 dbl 2.46 |
-7.5 -2.3 -4.6 -0.6 0.2 |
Cygnus is one of the richest constellations in the sky, it is sometimes referred to as the Northern Cross, it is certainly much more cruciform than is Crux. You will find, in Cygnus, the North American Nebula, the Pelican Nebula and the Veil Nebula. It is believed that Cygnus X-1, is a very strong X-ray source, and is possibly a black hole. |
Delphinus |
a Sualocin b Rotanev g |
B9 F5 G5+F8 |
190 l/y 72 l/y 125 l/y |
3.77 3.54 4.3+5.1 |
0.5 0.7 3.2 |
The stars a Sualocin and b Rotanev were named as a tribute to the Assistant Director of Palermo Observatory, using the latinized version of his name in reverse. Delphinus has become a popular area for seeking out novae. |
Dorado |
a b g |
A0 F9 F0 |
190 l/y 5000 l/y 68 l/y |
3.27 3.55 var 4.25 |
-0.6 -8.0 2.6 |
Dorado contains a large part of the Large Magellanic Cloud, in which you will find the Tarantula Nebula, which is bigger and brighter than any other nebulae in our galaxy. Dorado was introduced in 1603. |
Draco |
a Thuban b Rastaban g Eltamin d Tais e Tyl z Aldhibah h Aldhibain |
A0 G2 K5 G9 G8 B6 G8 |
290 l/y 250 l/y 105 l/y 115 l/y 165 l/y 315 l/y 85 l/y |
3.65 2.79 2.23 3.07 3.83 dbl 3.17 2.74 dbl |
-0.6 -2.1 -0.3 0.2 0.3 -1.9 0.3 |
Approximately 4,000 years ago the star a Thuban was the ancient Pole Star. In mythology Draco has been associated with the dragon slain by Cadmus before the founding of the city of Boeotia, or the dragon which guarded the apple in the garden of the Hesperides. Through the study of a Thuban, James Bradley discovered in 1728 the effect known as the aberration of star light. In most northern latitudes, Draco never sets. There is an 8th magnitude nebulae NGC 6543, which is bright blue and green in colour. |
Equuleus |
a Kitalpha g d |
G0 F0 F8 |
300 l/y 120 l/y 49 l/y |
3.92 4.69 var 4.49 |
0.6 1.0 4.0 |
Equuleus was probably named by Hipparchus The Greek Astronomer, but was very rarely mentioned. It represents a foal given by Mercury to Castor, one of the heavenly twins. This is the second smallest constellation in area. |
Eridanus |
a Achernar b Kursa g Zaurak d Rana z Zibal h Azha q Acamar |
B5 A3 M0 K0 A3 K1 A3+A2 |
91 l/y 78 l/y 145 l/y 29 l/y 52 l/y 135 l/y 55 l/y |
0.46 2.79 2.95 3.54 4.80 3.89 2.92 dbl |
-1.6 0.0 -0.4 3.8 1.8 0.9 0.6 |
Eridanus represents the river Po, and into this river the youth Phaethon plunged after loosing control of the Sun-chariot, so Jupitor struck him down with a thunderbolt. The original river only stretched as far as Acamar, but later the river was lengthened. The full course of the river can be seen from the Southern Hemesphere. This constellation contains NGC 1300, the barred spiral galaxy. a Achernar is the only brilliant star, though Acamar was ranked as first magnitude in ancient times. |
Fornax |
a b n |
F8+G6 G6 A0 |
46 l/y 210 l/y 340 l/y |
3.87 dbl 4.46 4.69 |
3.3 0.3 -0.6 |
A southern constellation, originally called Fornax Chemica, the Chemical Furnace. It has no bright stars, but is notable for a large number of galaxies called the Fornax Cluster, and also a radio source, Fornax A. |
Gemini |
a Castor b Pollux g Alhena d Wasat e Mebsuta z Mekbuda h Propus |
A1 K0 A0 F2 G8 G0 M3 |
47 l/y 36 l/y 85 l/y 55 l/y 680 l/y 1700 l/y 250 l/y |
1.58 mtl 1.14 1.93 3.53 dbl 2.98 3.98 var 2.92 dbl |
1.2 0.2 0.0 1.9 -4.5 -4.5 -0.5 |
Castor and Pollux were the twin sons of the King and Queen of Sparta. Although Pollux was immortal, Castor was not, and when Castor was killed, Pollux pleaded with the gods to share his immortality with Castor. The gods thought about this, and decided to bring Castor back to life, and immortalized both by placing them in the night sky. In China, Castor and Pollux are associated with Yin and Yang, which are the two forces of nature. |
Grus |
a Alnair b Al Dhanab g d |
B5 M3 B8 G5+M4 |
65 l/y 115 l/y 230 l/y 150 l/y |
1.74 2.11 var 3.01 3.97 dbl |
-1.1 -2.4 -1.2 0.3 |
Grus Is the most distinctive of our 'Southern Birds'. There is a marked contrast between a Alnair and b Al Dhanab. Grus was first mapped out in Bayer's atlas in 1603. Originally this constellation was concidered part of Piscis Austrinus. It has 6 stars above the fourth magnitude. |
Hercules |
a Rasalgethi b Kornephoros g d Sarin z Rutilicus l Masym w Cujam x |
M5+G5 G8 A9 A3+G2 G0+K5 K4 A0 K0 |
500 l/y 120 l/y 160 l/y 110 l/y 32 l/y 280 l/y 170 l/y 160 l/y |
3.51 var 2.77 3.78 3.14 dbl 2.81 dbl 4.41 4.57 3.70 |
-2.3 0.3 0.6 0.9 3.0 -0.3 1.8 0.2 |
As well as the obvious association with the Greek hero Hercules, this constellation was regarded by the ancient Sumerians and Babylonians as a representation of their hero Gilgamesh. There are many interesting objects within this area, and the most prominent being the red super-giant Rasalgethi and the globular star clusters of M.13 and M.92. M.13 is the brightest globular star cluster in the northern hemisphere, and is visible to the naked eye. It was originally described by Edmond Halley in 1715. |
Horologium |
a b d |
K1 A5 F0 |
180 l/y 280 l/y 91 l/y |
3.87 5.02 5.10 |
0.0 **** **** |
This constellation was mapped out Lacaille in 1750, and named in honour of Galileo who invented the pendulum clock. The only star above the fourth magnitude is a.There are several galaxies all below the 11th magnitude. NGC 1261 is of the 8th magnitude and is only 6 arc minutes across. |
Hydra |
a Alphard b g d e |
K3 B9 G5 A0 G0 |
85 l/y 270 l/y 100 l/y 150 l/y 250 l/y |
2.01 4.28 3.03 4.18 3.50 mlt |
-0.2 -0.3 0.3 0.6 0.6 |
This is the largest constellation in the sky. It represents the many heade hydra which lived in the Lernaean marshes, until Hercules destroyed it. This constellation extends for over 6 hours of Right Ascension. In the spiral galaxy M.83, a super-nova that flared in 1983 is still at this time visible. The star a Alphard is sometimes known as the 'Solitary One'. |
Hydrus |
a b g |
F0 G1 M0 |
78 l/y 21 l/y 230 l/y |
2.88 2.79 3.21 |
-0.2 3.8 -0.4 |
This constellation, which is sometimes called the male Water Snake, this is so not to confuse it with Hydra. You'll find it nestled between the large and small Magellanic Clouds. It was first included in Bayer's Publication of 1603. It was formed just to fill an empty area close to the south celestial pole. |
Indus |
a b d |
K0 K0 F0 |
125 l/y 110 l/y 115 l/y |
3.11 3.68 4.42 |
0.2 0.2 1.7 |
This constellation is sometimes called The American Indian, because it was named when the Americas was being explored. Indus is also included in Bayer's atlas of 1603. Indus contains a few galaxies below magnitude 12. |
Lacerta |
a b |
A2 G9 |
110 l/y 205 l/y |
3.77 4.43 |
1.4 0.2 |
This constellation was named in 1687 by Hevelius, and he suggested an alternitive name which was 'The Newt'. It lies far enough north to be circumpolar at its higher mid-northern latitude. Lacerta has only one star above magnitude four. |
Leo |
a Regulus b Denebola g Algieba d Zosma e Asad Aust |
B7 A3 K0+G7 A4 G0 |
85 l/y 39 l/y 97 l/y 52 l/y 310 l/y |
1.35 2.14 1.99 dbl 2.56 2.98 |
-0.6 1.7 0.2 1.9 -2.0 |
This is one of the very few constellations that actual looks like the figure it's ment to represent. Leo's brightest star, a Regulus, has long been associated with regal things. Its Greek name was Basiliskos, meaning 'Little King', and its current name Regulus, which it was given in the early 15th century, also means 'Little King' in Latin. |
Leo Minor |
b LMi 46 d |
G8 K0 A3 |
190 l/y 78 l/y 46 l/y |
4.19 3.77 2.61 |
1.8 1.7 **** |
You'll find Leo Minor tucked between Leo and Ursa Major, it's rather obscure. It was introduced by the Polish astronomer Johannes Hevelius in 1687. There is little of interest in Leo Minor, and the stars labelling is fragmented. |
Lepus |
a Arneb b Nihal g d |
F0 G2 F6+G5 G8 |
950 l/y 290 l/y 27 l/y 125 l/y |
2.59 2.82 3.58 dbl 3.77 |
-4.7 -2.1 4.1 0.3 |
Mythology states that Orion loved to hunt hares, so the hare was place in the skies next to him. It is a fairly distinctive constellation, and has 8 stars above magnitude 4. R Lepus is a very bright red star and known as 'Hind's Crimson Star', and varies fom 5th to 12th magnitude. |
Libra |
a Zunebelgenubi b Zenebeschamali g Zenebelakrab s Zenebelgubi |
A3 B8 G8 M4 |
72 l/y 140 l/y 75 l/y 165 l/y |
2.75 dbl 2.61 3.91 3.29 |
1.2 -0.2 1.8 -0.5 |
This is a Zodiacal constellation, although rather obscure. In the times of the ancient Greeks it was refered to the Claws of the Scorpion. It was actually changed to the Scales in the times of Julius Caesar. The star s Librae was formily known as g Scorpii. |
Lupus |
a Med b Kekouan g d e |
B1 B2 B3 B2 B3 |
620 l/y 680 l/y 460 l/y 590 l/y 620 l/y |
2.30 2.68 2.78 3.22 3.37 |
-4.4 -2.5 -1.7 -3.0 -2.3 |
The Greeks regarded Lupus as a non-specified wild animal, which they called Therion. There are several nebular objects one of which is NGC 5822. This nebula lies close to z and can easily be seen with binoculars, and has a magnitude of 3.41. This constellation is also fairly rich in double stars. It lies within the bands of the Milky Way and has several open clusters. |
Lynx |
a Lnx 15 Lnx 38 |
M0 G5 A3 |
150 l/y 100 l/y 115 l/y |
3.13 4.35 dbl 3.92 dbl |
-0.4 1.8 1.7 |
This is an ill-defined and obscure northern constellation. It was added to the night sky be Hevelius, and has no mythological associations. The star a and Lnx 38 are the only stars above magnitude 4. |
Lyra |
a Vega b Sheliak g Sulaphat h Aladfar d2 e1 |
A0 B7+A8 B9 B2 M4 A3+A5 |
26 l/y 1500 l/y 205 l/y 910 l/y 720 l/y 135 l/y |
0.03 3.31 dbl 3.24 4.39 dbl 4.30 dbl 4.67 dbl |
0.5 -0.6 -0.8 -3.0 -2.4 1.7 |
Lyra is of great interest, because it's graced by the presence of the brilliant blue Vega, as well as a prototype eclipsing binary b Lyrae, and the quadruple star e Lyrae, and of course the Ring Nebula, M.57. Vega is the fifth brightest star in the night sky. There are many different tales attached to Lyra. One is that the harp was given to the musician Orpheus by his father Apollo. His playing was so exquisite that it enchanted the wild beasts. |
Mensa |
a b g |
G5 G8 K4 |
30 l/y 305 l/y 390 l/y |
5.09 5.32 5.18 |
**** **** 0.09 |
In 1751 Lacaille named this constellation after the table mountain, which was near his observatory in South Africa. The northern most stars lie within the Large Magellanic Cloud. There are no stars brighter than magnitude 5. |
Microscopium |
a g e |
G6 G4 A2 |
250 l/y 245 l/y 190 l/y |
4.89 dbl 4.67 4.71 |
-0.04 0.3 2.1 |
Another constellation named by Lacaille after scientific instruments. There are a few galaxies, the brightest of which is NGC 6925, which is almost edge on to us. Its neighbour NGC 6923 is also a spiral but almost a magnitude fainter. |
Monoceros |
a b g d e z MOn 13 |
K0 B2+B3 K3 A0 A5 G2 A0 |
175 l/y 590 l/y 215 l/y 210 l/y 155 l/y 1800 l/y 2750 l/y |
3.93 3.72 mlt 3.98 4.15 4.33 mlt 4.34 4.50 |
0.2 -2.6 -0.2 0.0 0.3 -4.5 -5.2 |
This is not an ancient constellation, and although it represents a unicorn it has no definite legends attached to it. Monoceros is bound by the Milky Way, and its general area is very rich in stars. The most famous stars in this constellation is the Plaskett's Star, named after the Canadian astronomer J. S. Plaskett, who found them in 1922, and discovered that they were the most massive pair known. It also contains the Rosette Nebula. |
Musca Australis |
a b g |
B3 B3 B5 |
390 l/y 300 l/y 185 l/y |
2.69 var 3.05 dbl 3.87 |
-2.3 -1.7 -1.1 |
Originally called Apis the Bee, later called the Fly Bee, then the southern Fly, and now just the Fly. q Muscais the second brightest of the rare Wolf-Rayet type star. It has five stars above magnitude 4. |
Norma |
g2 d e |
G8 A0 B3 |
145 l/y 59 l/y 490 l/y |
4.02 dbl 4.72 4.47 dbl |
0.3 0.6 -1.7 |
The reason that g is the first star in Norma is because a and b have now been added to other local constellations. g2 has a companion g1, which is a yellow super giant over 10,000 light years away. |
Octans |
a b d |
F4 F0 K2 |
390 l/y 110 l/y 185 l/y |
5.23 bin 4.15 4.32 |
**** 2.6 -0.1 |
The Octant was the for runner of the sextant, but not as accurate. s Octantis is the southern Pole Star, and is only just visible on a clear night. The constellation itself is very obscure, and has only one star above magnitude 4. |
Ophiuchus |
a Rasalhague b Cheleb g d Yed Prior e Yed Post z Han h Sabik q l Marfik |
A5 K2 A0 M1 G8 O9.5 A2 B2 A1 |
59 l/y 110 l/y 115 l/y 160 l/y 125 l/y 550 l/y 68 l/y 586 l/y 110 l/y |
2.08 2.77 3.75 2.74 3.24 2.56 2.43 3.27 3.82 mlt |
0.3 -0.1 0.6 -0.5 0.3 -4.4 1.4 -3.0 1.2 |
This constellation depicts a serpent coiled around a man, and is usually associated with Asclepius the son of the God Apollo, and was himself the god of medicine (snakes are linked with medical knowledge). There are many interesting objects in this constellation, the most celebrated being 'Barnard's Star', a red dwarf of magnitude 9.5. At only 6 l/y away it is the second closest star to Earth. In 1604 the last super-nova seen to erupt in our galaxy was seen near q Ophiuchi. The super-nova was describe by Johannes Kepler, and was therefore called Kepler's Star. |
Orion |
a Betelgeux b Rigel g Bellatrix d Mintaka e Alnilam z Alnitak h Algjebbah k Saiph l Meissa i Hatysa s q Trapezium |
M2 B8 B2 O9.5 B0 O9.5 B1 B0.5 O8 O9 O9.5 O4 |
425 l/y 1050 l/y 360 l/y 1500 l/y 1400 l/y 1100 l/y 1500 l/y 1300 l/y 1760 l/y 1900 l/y 1500 l/y 1500 l/y |
0.5 mlt 0.12 mlt 1.64 2.23 dbl 1.70 1.77 dbl 3.36 mlt 2.06 3.39 2.76 dbl 3.73 mlt 5.10 mlt |
-5.6 -7.1 -3.6 -6.1 -6.2 -5.9 -3.5 -6.9 -5.1 -6.0 -4.4 **** |
This is possibly one of the brightest constellations known. Orion was a hunter who was under the delusion that he could kill any creature on Earth, but he was fatally stung by a scorpion. There are many other legends attached to Orion. There are a number of super-giant stars in Orion, and many interesting objects. a Betelgeux is so large that it is considered unstable, it varies anywhere from 300 to 400 times the size of our sun. The gaseous nebula M.42, in Orion's Sword, is the most famous of its type, and is easily visible to the naked eye. This is also the location of the 'Trapezium'. The 'Horse Head Nebula' is a dark dust cloud, which protrudes into the bright emission nebula known as IC 434 at the eastern end of Orion's Belt. |
Pavo |
a Peacock b g d e k |
B3 A5 F6 G5 A0 F5 |
360 l/y 88 l/y 28 l/y 19 l/y 135 l/y 73 l/y |
1.94 3.42 4.22 3.56 3.96 3.93 var |
-2.3 1.2 4.5 4.8 0.6 3.4 |
This is one of the 'Southern Birds'. First listed in Bayer's Atlas in 1603. The brightest star a, is somewhat isolated from the main pattern. k is known as one of the brightest Cepheid variables in the sky, and is a super-giant. In mythology the Peacock was very sacred to the Goddess Hera, because the eyes in its tail represent the eyes of Argus who had been hired to spy on her husband Zeus. |
Pegasus |
a Markab b Scheat g Algenib e Enif z Homan h Matar q Biham m Sadalbari |
B9 M2 B2 K2 B8.5 G2 A2 K0 |
165 l/y 180 l/y 590 l/y 520 l/y 155 l/y 310 l/y 82 l/y 145 l/y |
2.48 2.32 var 2.83 dbl 2.38 3.40 2.94 3.53 var 3.48 |
0.2 -1.4 -3.0 -4.4 0.0 -0.9 1.4 0.2 |
This constellation commemorates the flying horse which the hero Bellerophon rode to destroy the fire breathing Chimaera, and not as the films depict by Perseus to rescue Andromeda. Pegasus was created by the blood of Medusa, and the foam of the sea. The main stars, which are a, b and g, go to make up two sides of a square, the fourth star, which used to be called d Pegasi, is now a Alpheratz in Andromeda. NGC 7331 is a spiral galaxy very similar to the 'Milky Way'. M.15 is a bright globular star cluster of the 6th magnitude. |
Perseus |
a Mirphak b Algol g d z Atik k Misam x Menkib t Kerb o Ati u Nembus |
F5 B8 G8 B5 B1 K0 O7 G4 B1 B3 |
550 l/y 100 l/y 95 l/y 390 l/y 1600 l/y 170 l/y 150 l/y 173 l/y 1000 l/y 450 l/y |
1.80 2.12 bin 2.93 3.01 2.85 3.80 4.04 3.95 3.83 4.04 |
-4.6 -0.2 0.3 -2.2 -5.7 0.2 -5.4 0.3 -4.4 -1.7 |
This is another prominent constellation, which contains the prototype eclipsing binary b Algol, as well as the beautiful 'Sword Handle' cluster, or NGC 869 and NGC 884. M.34, the 'California Nebula', was previously known as the 'Dragon Nebula', and is the faintest Messier object. As everyone knows, Perseus slayed the Gorgon, Medusa, and rescued Andromeda. The Gorgon's head is marked by the 'Demon Star', Algol. The most beautiful meteor shower of each year occures around the 12th August in the area of g Perseus. The constellation contains 12 stars above magnitude 4. |
Phoenix |
a Ankaa b g d e z |
K0 G8+G8 K5 K0 K0 B8 |
88 l/y 130 l/y 896 l/y 91 l/y 75 l/y 220 l/y |
2.39 3.31 tpl 3.41 3.95 3.88 3.88 e/bin |
0.2 0.3 -4.4 1.7 0.2 -0.2 |
This constellation ws originally called by the Arabs 'The Boat', which is linked with 'Eridanus'. In 1603, Bayer introduced this constellation as the 'Phoenix'. The 'Phoenix' is a mythical bird with red and gold plumage, and was said to live for 500 years at which time it built a pyre and threw itself into the flames. From these flames a new 'Phoenix' would arise. a 'Phoenix' is a magnitude 2 star and the brightest in the system. |
Pictor |
a b g d |
A5 A5 K1 B1 |
72 l/y 59 l/y 250 l/y 2400 l/y |
3.27 3.85 4.51 4.78 e/bin |
2.1 0.3 0.0 **** |
Lacaille, in 1750, called this constellation 'Equuleus Pictoris'. However the shortened version 'Pictor' is now the recognised name. b 'Pictor', created a lot of interest in 1984, when photographers observed a dust and gas disc around it, which led to the conclusion that it's a planetary system being formed. |
Pisces |
a Al Rischa b g d e w h Alpherg |
A2 B5 G8 K5 K0 F4 G8 |
100 l/y 320 l/y 155 l/y 280 l/y 211 l/y 83 l/y 145 l/y |
3.79 dbl 4.53 3.69 4.43 4.28 4.01 3.62 |
1.4 -0.4 0.3 -0.3 0.2 0.8 0.3 |
Its mythological associations are rather scetchy, but it is said that the fishes represent Venus and Cupid, because they changed themselves into fishes when trying to escape from Typhon. With regard to a the brighter of the two components is a spectroscopic binary, in fact it is thought that both components are spectroscopic binaries. You will also find M.74, which is a face on spiral galaxy. There are three stars above magnitude 4, they are a, g, h. |
Piscis Australis |
a Fomalhaut b g d i |
A3 A0 A0 G4 A0 |
22 l/y 135 l/y 325 l/y 160 l/y 135 l/y |
1.16 4.29 dbl 4.46 dbl 4.21 4.34 |
2.0 0.6 0.6 0.3 0.6 |
Fomalhaut is the most southerly of the 1st magnitude stars, which can be seen from England. This is a constellation that has been known right back as far as the classical Greeks and Romans, and probably goes back even further. It represents a single fish, possibly drinking from a stream, which was poured from a jar held by Aquarius. |
Puppis |
z Suhail Hadar p r Turais t n s x Asmidiske |
O5-8 K5 F6 K0 B8 K5 G3 |
1500 l/y 100 l/y 300 l/y 82 l/y 240 l/y 163 l/y 650 l/y |
2.25 2.70 2.81 var 2.93 3.17 3.25 3.34 dbl |
-7.1 -0.3 -2.0 0.2 -1.2 -0.3 -4.5 |
This constellation was originally part of the constellation of Argo Navis, which, in 1763, was split into 3 seperate parts, Carina and Vela being the other two parts. z is one of the hottest and one of the most luminous stars in the Milky Way. M.46 is an open star cluster, which contains between 100/150 stars of uniform magnitude. There are also several other star clusters and nebulae visible in the area of Puppis. M.47 is another open cluster, and is the most beautiful of all clusters in this area. |
Pyxis |
a b g d |
B2 G4 K4 A3 |
1050 l/y 320 l/y 215 l/y 140 l/y |
3.68 4.01 4.03 4.88 var |
-4.4 0.3 -0.3 **** |
This is another Lacaille constellation, which represents a magnetic compass, although the name is an anachronism because the magnetic compass was not invented until much later. T Pyx is a recurrent nova, which released its outer shell in 1890, 1902, 1920, 1944 and 1966, so it's due for another bust. |
Reticulum |
a b g d |
G6 K0 M5 M2 |
135 l/y 78 l/y **** 310 l/y |
3.35 3.85 4.51 4.56 |
-2.1 3.2 **** -0.5 |
Reticulum was added was added to the nights sky by, yes you guessed it, Lacaille in 1752, and may have referred to one of his measuring instruments he used with his telescope. The star z is a double of two almost identical yellow stars, which are very similar to our Sun. |
Sagitta |
a b g d z |
G0 G8 K5 M5 F8 |
590 l/y 590 l/y 175 l/y 750 l/y 400 l/y |
4.37 4.37 3.47 3.82 5.01 dbl |
-2.0 -2.1 -0.3 -2.4 **** |
This is an original constellation, which could be linked to several arrows in mythology. There's Cupid's arrow, the arrow used be Apollo against the one eyed Cyclops, the arrow used by Heracles against the Stymphalian birds, or the arrow that killed the eagle of the god Zeus. The star WZ Sge is another recurring nova, which flares from the 15th mag. to 7th or 8th mag. |
Sagittarius |
a Rukbat b1 Arkab g Alnasr d Kaus Media e Kaus Australis z Ascella l Kaus Borealis m Polis p Albaldah s Nunki h |
B8 B8+F0 K0 K2 B9 A2 K2 B8 F2 B3 M3+M4 |
275 l/y 190 l/y 135 l/y 100 l/y 95 l/y 78 l/y 72 l/y 3840 l/y 304 l/y 210 l/y 425 l/y |
3.97 3.93 mlt 2.99 2.70 1.85 2.59 mlt 2.81 3.86 var 2.89 2.02 3.11 mlt |
-0.2 -0.2 0.2 -0.1 -0.3 0.3 -0.1 -7.1 -2.0 -2.0 -2.4 |
This constellation represents a Centaur, but a more antagonistic Centaur than Centaurus, because he's aiming an arrow at Scorpius. You will find that the Milky Way lies behind the star clouds in this constellation, and the entire area is very, very rich; it abounds with Messier objects like, M.8, which is the 'Lagoon Nebula', M.17, which is the 'Horseshoe Nebula', and not to forget, M.20, 'Trifid Nebula'. There are many others like M.21, M.23, M.24, and M.28, to name but a few. The actual center of 'Sagittarius' is marked by an infra-red and radio source known as 'Sagittarius A'. There are numerous open star clusters, and many globular star clusters, such as M.22, which was the very first globular cluster to be discovered. |
Scorpio |
a Antares b Acrab d Dschubba e Wei q Sargas k Girtab l Shaula n Jabbah s Alniyat u Lesath w1 Jabhat al Akrab |
M1 B0.5+B2 B0 K2 F0 B2 B2 A0+B2 B1 B3 B1+G2 |
170 l/y 720 l/y 620 l/y 65 l/y 190 l/y 384 l/y 275 l/y 420 l/y 580 l/y 1536 l/y 720 l/y |
0.96 var 2.64 dbl 2.32 2.29 1.87 2.41 1.63 4.00 mlt 2.89 var 2.69 3.96 dbl |
-4.7 -3.7 -4.1 -0.1 -5.6 -3.0 -3.0 0.0 -4.4 -5.7 -3.5 |
Actually, the more correct name for this constellation is 'Scorpius'. It is said that 'Scorpio' is the scorpion that was sent by Juno to sting and kill 'Orion' the great hunter. Now, you will notice, that 'Scorpio' and 'Orion' are on opposite sides of the night sky, this is so the scorpion can cause 'Orion' no more problems. The ancient Chinese included this constellation in a figure representing the 'Azure Dragon'. This is another very rich area in the night sky. Antares, means Mars like, referring to its bright red colour, and is the heart of the scorpion. There are more than two dozen clusters located in this area, including M.6 and M.7, these are both naked eye clusters. The brightest X-ray source in the sky lies at 'Scorpius X-1' |
Sculptor |
a b g d |
B8 B9 G8 A0 |
590 l/y 260 l/y 225 l/y 200 l/y |
4.31 4.37 4.41 4.51 |
-1.2 0.0 0.3 0.6 |
Lacaille originally called this constellation 'L'Atelier du Sculpteur', which refers to the sculptor's workshop. Although 'Sculptor' covers a large area of the nights sky, there is not a great deal to be seen, although there is a number of galaxies, but they're all pretty faint, between magnitude 7 and magnitude 12. |
Scutum |
a b g d |
K3 G5 A2 F3 |
140 l/y 180 l/y 145 l/y 255 l/y |
3.85 4.22 4.70 4.71 var |
-0.2 -2.1 1.4 1.3 |
It was named by Hevelius as a tribute to King John III Sobieski, and represents his coat of arms. d is the prototype of pulsating variable stars. The open star cluster M.11, or better known as 'The Wild Duck' cluster, is an exceptional example, and contains more than 200 stars, with mags. between 9 and 14. |
Serpens |
a Unukalhai b g d e z q Alya |
K2 A2 F6 A9+A7 A2 F3 A5+A5 |
72 l/y 135 l/y 42 l/y 85 l/y 105 l/y 70 l/y 105 l/y |
2.65 3.67 dbl 3.85 3.80 dbl 3.71 4.62 4.98 dbl |
-0.1 0.6 3.7 1.7 1.6 3.1 2.1 |
Serpens is rather a curious constellation as it comprises of two seperate parts. First we have Serpens Caput (the snake's head), and secondly we have Serpens Cauda (the snake's tail). The two halves are divided by Ophiuchus, and all three were once one large constellation. The star q is a very good example of a perfect double, in which the components are identical, both of the fourth magnitude and are both spectral type A5. M.16 is a large, scattered cluster immersed in the diffused 'Eagle' nebula. |
Sextans |
a b g |
B5 B6 A0 |
330 l/y 520 l/y 185 l/y |
4.49 5.12 5.10 |
-1.1 -0.5 0.09 |
Yet another constellation introduced by Hevelius, the Polish astronomer, in 1687. It contains only 5th magnitude stars. NGC 3115, known as the 'Spindle' galaxy, is visible through most amateur telescopes, and lies 15 million light-years away. |
Taurus |
a Aldebaran b Al Nath g Hyadum Primus d e Ain z Alheka Tau 17 Electra Tau 19 Taygete Tau 20 Maia Tau 23 Merope h Alcyone Tau 27 Atlas BU Pleione |
K5 B7 K0 K0 K0 B2 B6 B6 B7 B6 B7 B8 B8 |
68 l/y 145 l/y 160 l/y 163 l/y 145 l/y 520 l/y 390 l/y 360 l/y 390 l/y 390 l/y 240 l/y 290 l/y 95 l/y |
0.85 dbl 1.65 3.63 3.76 mlt 3.54 3.00 dbl 3.70 4.30 3.88 4.18 2.87 3.63 **** var |
-0.3 -1.6 0.2 0.2 0.2 -3.0 -1.9 -0.9 -1.6 -1.3 -1.6 -1.2 **** |
In Greek mythology it is said that Jupiter transformed himself into a bull so he could carry off the princess Europa, who was the daughter of the King of Crete. Taurus is one of the brightest constellation in the nights sky and it contains the most famous open clusters known. They are the 'Pleiades' and the 'Hyades' clusters. The famous supernova, which was observed from China in 1054 was so bright that it was actually visible during the day, resulted in the formation of M.1, which is much better known as 'The Crab Nebula'. Deep inside the remaining remnants is a pulsar, which is 6,000 light years away. NGC 1555, which is named 'Hind's Variable Nebula' is where the star T Tauri is located. This star is the proto-type of irregular variables thought to be very young stars. l Tauri is an Algol-type eclipsing binary, with a range of mags. from 3.3 to 3.8, and varies every 4 days. |
Telescopium |
a d e z |
B4 B6+B5 G5 G8 |
460 l/y 650 l/y 175 l/y 180 l/y |
3.51 4.88 opt/bin 4.53 4.13 |
-2.9 **** 0.3 0.3 |
Lacaille called this constellation 'Tubus Astronomicus' to honour Galileo's invention of the telescope. The only interesting object is the erratic variable RR Telescopii, it has an extreme range of mag 6.5 to 16.5. This is a close binary with one component being a red giant, which could be forming a planetary nebula. |
Triangulum |
a Rasalmothallah b g |
F6 A5 A0 |
65 l/y 135 l/y 120 l/y |
3.41 3.00 4.01 |
2.2 0.3 0.6 |
The first asteriod ever to be discovered was found in this constellation in 1801. The most important object is M.33. This is a member of our local group,and is a rather loose spiral, which lies 2,300,000 l/y away, and has no apparent stellar nucleus. |
Triangulum Australe |
a Atria b g d |
K2 F5 A0 G2 |
105 l/y 42 l/y 72 l/y 352 l/y |
1.92 2.85 2.89 3.85 |
-0.1 3.0 0.6 -2.1 |
This constellation is fairly easy to locate from the southern hemesphere. It can be found close to the very bright Pointers to the Southern Cross, a and b 'Centauri'. With in the bounderies of this constellation are several Cephied type variables, which are below naked eye visibility, and NGC 6025, an open cluster. |
Tucana |
a b g d |
K3 B8+A2 F0 B8 |
120 l/y 150 l/y 140 l/y 270 l/y |
2.86 4.37 mlt 3.99 4.48 dbl |
-0.2 -0.2 0.6 -0.2 |
This is the dimmest of the Southern Birds, but it's one saving grace is NGC 104, which is known as '47 Tucanae' a brilliant globular star cluster. The 'Small Magallanic Cloud' is a satellite galaxy to the 'Milky Way'. Not far away is another bright globular cluster NGC 362 with an intergrated magnitude of 6.6. |
Ursa Major |
a Dubhe b Merak g Phad d Megrez e Alioth z Mizar h Alkaid i Talita l Tania Borealis m Tania Australis n Alula Borealis x Alula Australis o Muscida p2 Ta Tsun |
K0+K0 A1 A0 A3 A0 A2+A6 B3 A7 A2 M0 K3 G0 G4 K2 |
108 l/y 78 l/y 88 l/y 62 l/y 61 l/y 60 l/y 100 l/y 49 l/y 120 l/y 155 l/y 150 l/y 25 l/y 230 l/y 278 l/y |
1.79 dbl 2.37 2.44 3.31 1.77 var 2.09 mlt 1.86 3.14 3.45 3.05 3.48 3.79 3.36 mlt 4.60 |
0.2 1.2 0.6 1.7 0.2 0.4 -1.7 2.4 0.6 -0.4 -0.2 4.9 -0.9 -0.1 |
This is the third largest constellation, and the best known of all star patterns. It is know by numerous different names by different cultures. According to myth Callisto, the daughter of King Lycaon of Arcadia, was turned into a bear after Juno became jealous of her beauty. Many years later Callisto's son, Arcas, discovered the bear while out hunting, and was about to kill it when Jupiter intervened and transformed Arcas, also into a bear, and then placed both in the night sky. The star z Mizar is not only the first double star that was discovered by telescope, but is also the first spectroscopic binary star ever discovered. There are many galaxies and othe objects in this area, M.81, M.82, M.101 and M.97. M.97 is better known as the 'Owl Nebula', which is due to two dark area's, like eye patches. M.82 is an irregular galaxy and also a strong radio source. It seems perturbed by the pull of its larger neighbour, M.81. |
Ursa Minor |
a Polaris b Kocab g Pherkad Major d Yildun e z Alifa h |
F8+F3 K4 A3 A1 G5 A3 F0 |
650 l/y 95 l/y 225 l/y 140 l/y 200 l/y 110 l/y 65 l/y |
1.99 dbl 2.08 3.05 dbl 4.36 4.23 e/bin 4.32 4.98 dbl |
-4.6 -0.3 -1.1 1.2 0.3 1.7 **** |
This constellation was not recognised until 600 BC., when it was finally introduced by the Greek Astronomer Thales. As the North Star, or Polaris, never sets, it was always important to early mariners. The stars b and g are called the Guardians of the Pole. Polaris lies within one degree of the pole, but around the time of the building of the pyramids, aDraconis was the Pole Star. Polaris will be closest to the pole in the year 2105 AD. There are only three stars above magnitude 4. |
Vela |
g Regor d Koo She k Markeb l Suhail m j y |
WC7 A0 B2 K5 G5 B5 F2 |
512 l/y 75 l/y 460 l/y 300 l/y 98 l/y 2464 l/y 61 l/y |
1.78 mlt 1.96 dbl 2.50 2.21 var 2.69 3.54 3.60 |
-4.1 0.6 -3.0 -4.4 0.3 -6.0 1.9 |
This was originally part of the constellation 'Argo Navis', which was divided up in 1763. k and d Vela, with i and e Carina are referred to as 'The False Cross, as they're sometimes mistaken for 'Crux'. Vela is situated in an area of nebulosity known as 'The Gum Nebula'. This is a super-nova remnant, which contains a pulsar which has also been detected at optical wavelengths. The Wolf Rayet star g is a very rare type of star, which has a very hot surface and ejects material at an amazing rate. |
Virgo |
a Spica b Zavijava g Arich d Minelauva e Vindemiatrix z Heze h Zaniah i Syrma k l Khambalia |
B1 F8 F0+F0 M3 G9 A3 A2 F6 K3 A0 |
280 l/y 33 l/y 36 l/y 260 l/y 100 l/y 1088 l/y 105 l/y 72 l/y 227 l/y 64 l/y |
0.98 var/dbl 3.61 2.75 mlt 3.38 2.83 3.37 3.89 4.08 4.19 4.52 |
-3.5 3.6 2.6 -0.5 0.2 1.7 1.4 0.7 -0.2 2.3 |
The constellation of Virgo, which is very large, represents Astraea, who was the goddess of justice, and daughter to Jupiter and Themis. The large cluster of galaxies in Virgo are the nearest to the earth, and lie about 45,000,000 l/y away, and is known as 'The Realm of the Galaxies'. The Messier galaxy M.87 or NGC 4486 is a giant elliptical galaxy, which emits both radio and X-ray waves. Photographs have shown jets of matter streaming out from this galaxy. Another Messier galaxy, there are 11 in all, is M.104 or NGC 4594 is more commonly known as 'The Sombrero Hat Galaxy', which is a large spiral and can be seen edge on to us. The brightest quasar detected is also in Virgo. |
Volans |
a b g d e |
A5 K2 G8+F4 F8 B5 |
75 l/y 100 l/y 200 l/y 330 l/y 550 l/y |
4.00 3.77 3.79 dbl 3.98 4.35 |
2.1 -0.1 0.9 -5.4 -1.1 |
The dutch navigators Keyser and Houtman invented this constellation in the 16th century, giving it the name of Piscis Volans and Bayer included it in his catalogue in 1603. Although this is a very small constellation, g Volans is probably the most interesting object to view here, as it is a beautifully spaced binary system with components of cream and gold. |
Vulpecula |
a Vul 13 Vul 15 Vul 23 |
M0 A0 A0 K3 |
250 l/y 350 l/y 58 l/y 282 l/y |
4.44 4.58 4.64 4.52 |
0.0 -0.6 1.7 -0.2 |
Hevelius in 1687, called this Vulpecula Cum Anser, which means the Fox and Goose. Since then the Goose has disappeared, maybe the Fox ate it. In 1967 this was the site of a momentous discovery, the first pulsar. M.27 or NGC 6853 is the 'Dumb Bell Nebula', this is a planetary nebula. |
