Centaurus
Centaurus is a constellation in the southern hemisphere of the night sky. It is named after a centaur, which is a creature that is half man and half horse. The astronomer named Ptolemy listed Centaurus when he made a list of 48 constellations. Centaurus is also one of the 88 constellations that were made by the International Astronomical Union.
Click for larger image | |
List of stars in Centaurus | |
Abbreviation: | Cen |
Genitive: | Centauri |
Symbology: | |
Right ascension: | 13 h |
Declination: | −50° |
Area: | 1060 sq. deg. (9th) |
Main stars: | 11 |
Bayer/Flamsteed stars: | 69 |
Stars known to have planets: | 14 |
Bright stars: | 10 |
Nearby stars: | 8 |
Brightest star: | α Cen (−0.27m) |
Nearest star: | Proxima Centauri (α Cen C) ( ly) |
Messier objects: | 0 |
Meteor showers: | Alpha Centaurids Omicron Centaurids Theta Centaurids |
Bordering constellations: | Antlia Carina Circinus Crux Hydra Libra (corner) Lupus Musca Vela |
Visible at latitudes between +25° and −90° Best visible at 21:00 (9 p.m.) during the month of May | |
In the direction of Centaurus is the Shapley Supercluster or Shapl (SCl 124). This is the largest concentration of galaxies in our nearby universe.