Capricornus, Microscopium, and Corona Australis - Downloadable article
Don't miss these Southern Hemisphere constellations, guaranteed to bring observers many deep-sky delights.
By
Tom Polakis —
Published:
March 3, 2009This downloadable article is from an Astronomy magazine 45-article series called "Celestial Portraits." The collection highlights all 88 constellations in the sky and explains how to observe each constellation's deep-sky targets. The articles feature star charts, stunning pictures, and constellation mythology. We've put together 11 digital packages. Each one contains four Celestial Portraits articles for you to purchase and download.
"Capricornus, Microscopium, and Corona Australis" is one of four articles included in Celestial Portraits Package 8.
The stretch of sky trailing behind Sagittarius is easy to overlook. Very distant galaxies in sparse starfields take the place of brilliant clusters and nebulae. But if you're willing to probe a little deeper, the autumn sky will no doubt reward you with its hidden cosmic treasures.
Capricornus the Sea Goat is a recognizable grouping of a dozen or so naked-eye stars, five of which are brighter than 4th magnitude. In the northwest corner of the constellation is Alpha (α) Capricorni, a wide pair showing its separation even with unaided vision. Alpha2 Capricorni is a magnitude-3.6 star of Spectral Type G6 that lies 100 light-years away, while its partner, Alpha1 Capricorni, is a half magnitude fainter and six times farther away. On the east end of Capricornus is its brightest star, Delta (δ) Capricorni, a 3rd-magnitude gem only 40 light-years away. To the south of Capricornus is Microscopium — the Microscope — a small and indistinct group of 5th-magnitude stars. To read the complete article, purchase and download Celestial Portraits Package 8. |
Deep-sky objects in Capricornus, Microscopium, and Corona Australis
NGC 6541, IC 4808, BSO 14, NGC 6726, NGC 6729, Bernes 157, IC 1297, RT Capricorni, NGC 6907, IC 5013, Omicron (ο) Capricorni, NGC 6925, AT Microscopii, IC 5039, NGC 6958, NGC 7103, M30 (NGC 7099), Pal 12 |
Package 8 contains the following Celestial Portraits articles
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