![]() It lies only 280 light-years away.Ĭoma Berenices also hosts the Coma Cluster of galaxies, a large cluster that contains more than 1,000 members. The cluster has an apparent magnitude of 1.8 and stretches across 7.5 degrees of the sky. However, the constellation contains an exceptionally bright and large open cluster, the Coma Star Cluster (Melotte 111), which is easily visible on a clear night. The constellation’s luminaries, the yellow dwarf Beta Comae Berenices and yellow-white dwarf Diadem (Alpha Comae Berenices) shine at magnitudes 4.26 and 4.32. The stars of Berenice’s Hair represented the tuft of the tail.Įastern sky in the northern hemisphere, image: Stellarium The Lion’s tail once extended into what is now Coma Berenices. The bright Regulus, the star marking the Lion’s heart, appears at the base of the Sickle. The Lion’s mane is outlined by an asterism known as the Sickle of Leo. It looks exactly like the animal it represents. Leo is one of the most identifiable constellations in the sky. The fainter Coma Berenices and Canes Venatici appear in the region between Virgo and the handle of the Big Dipper. The zodiac constellations Leo and Virgo rise in the east in the evening. The other five stars of the Winter Circle are Capella in Auriga, Aldebaran in Taurus, Rigel in Orion, Sirius in Canis Major, and Procyon in Canis Minor. The asterism appears high in the southwestern sky in the evening. Pollux is part of the Winter Circle, a large asterism that dominates the northern winter sky. Pollux is the 17th brightest star in the sky and Castor is the 23rd. Pollux and Castor, the constellation’s brightest stars, represent the heads of the celestial Twins. Gemini appears southeast of Auriga and northeast of the bright Orion. Almaaz at the Charioteer’s elbow is often included in the Kids asterism but was historically not part of it. Two relatively bright stars near it, Saclateni and Haedus, represent the Goat’s kids (Haedi). It is traditionally known as the Goat Star. Tonight’s sky as seen from mid-northern latitudes, image: StellariumĬapella, the brightest star in Auriga, is the sixth brightest star in the sky. These include the bright open clusters Messier 36, Messier 37, and Messier 38, the Flaming Star Nebula (IC 405), the Tadpole Nebula (IC 410), the Spider Nebula (IC 417), and the Fly Nebula (NGC 1931). Formed by Capella, Menkalinan, Almaaz, Mahasim, and Hassaleh in Auriga with Elnath in Taurus, the hexagon pattern is a guide to several relatively bright deep sky objects that appear in this area of the sky. Lynx occupies much of the space between these two constellations and Ursa Major, but its brightest stars are fainter than magnitude 3.0 and difficult to see from urban skies.Īuriga’s hexagon is the most prominent feature of the Charioteer constellation. Northern hemisphereĪuriga and Gemini are the brightest constellations appearing high overhead for observers in the northern latitudes in the evening. The constellation maps below show the sky as it appears at around 10 pm in the mid-northern, equatorial, and mid-southern latitudes. The night sky tonight looks different depending on the location. These constellations are mostly bright and easy to see even from areas with some light pollution. Observers in the southern hemisphere can catch Canis Major, Columba, Lepus, and Puppis high in the evening sky at this time of the year. These constellations appear high overhead in the evening. ![]() For northern observers, winter is the best time of the year to see Auriga and Gemini. The constellations in tonight’s sky host many familiar star patterns. ![]()
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