Showing posts with label Constellation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Constellation. Show all posts

Sagitta and Vulpecula


Sagitta (the Arrow) and Vulpecula (the Fox) are constellations just south of the constellation Cygnus.

They are both quite faint and difficult to locate if you have any kind of light pollution at all.

Vulpecula does contain an interesting asterism called 'The Coathanger' or 'Brocchi's Cluster'.

Coma Berinices


Coma Berinices is a constellation which lies directly north of the constellation Virgo and contains a prominent star cluster. The constellation, which means Berinice's Hair, was named after the legend of Queen Berenice II of Egypt.

Notable Features
M53, M64, M85, M91, M98, M99, M100

Canis Major


Canis Major, the Great Dog, is a late winter constellation. It can be seen just south-east of the constellation Orion. It's brightest star Sirius is also the brightest star in the night sky.


Delphinus


Delphinus, the Dolphin, is a summer constellation in the northern hemisphere best seen late July - early August. It is small but interesting constellation that could be mistaken for a star cluster like the Pleiades for example. It can be quite tricky to find but once you know where it is you will have no trouble finding it again.

Taurus


Taurus, The Bull, is a large constellation in the winter sky of the northern hemisphere. Its brightest star is Aldebaran, the bull's bloodshot eye.

Notable Features
M1 - Crab Nebula
M45 - Pleiades Star Cluster
Hyades Star Cluster

Mensa


Mensa, The Table Mountain, is a faint southern hemisphere constellation. It contains part of The Large Magellanic Cloud, a satellite galaxy of our own Milky Way galaxy.

Notable Features
LMC - The Large Magellanic Cloud

Canis Minor


Canis Minor, The Lesser Dog, is a small constellation of few stars. Its two main components are Procyon, its brightest star, and Gomeisa.

Lyra


Lyra is a small constellation but is easily recognizable as its brightest star Vega is, after Arcturus in Boötes, the second brightest star in the northern hemisphere.

Notable Features

M56 - Globular Cluster
M57 or NGC 6720 - The Ring Nebula

Cygnus


Cygnus, The Swan, is a summer constellation in the UK. Deneb, which forms its tail, is its brightest star.

Triangulum



Triangulum or The Triangle is a constellation made up of three relatively faint stars.

Notable Features

M33 or NGC 598 - The Triangulum Galaxy

Perseus



Legend has it that Perseus, who was the son of Zeus and Danae, slew Medusa and rescued the chained maiden, Andromeda.
The bright star in Perseus is Mirfak (The Elbow).

Notable Features
NGC 869 and NGC 884 - Two open clusters collectively known as Double Cluster
M34 or NGC 1039 - An open star cluster
NGC 1499 - The California Nebula

Gemini


The constellation Gemini (The Twins) can be seen overhead in the evening in spring. Its two brightest stars are Castor and Pollox.
Like most twins Castor and Pollux can be difficult to tell apart.

Ursa Major


Ursa Major (The Great Bear) is a circumpolar constellation of the northen hemisphere. It contains the popular asterisms of The Plough, The Big Dipper and The Saucepan.

Lepus


Lepus is a constellation south of Orion and is depicted as a hare.

Orion


In legend Orion was a hunter who fought Taurus the bull. It's lead star is Betelgeuse, a red supergiant which is so much larger than The Sun that if it were to be placed where the Sun lies now it would completely engulf all of the planet up to and beyond the orbit of Mars. However, Betelgeuse is not Orion's brightest star. That position falls to Rigel.

Andromeda

Andromeda, The Chained Maiden, is an autumnal constellation in northern skies.

Notable Features
The Andromeda Galaxy

Boötes


Boötes is Latin for herdsman. It's brightest star is Arcturus.

Auriga


Auriga is Latin for the charioteer. It is a northern constellation and it's brightest star is Capella.

Aquila



Aquila is Latin for eagle and is a summer constellation. Its alpha star is Altair.

Sagittarius


Sagittarius, 'the archer', is one of the twelve zodiacal constellations.

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