The Constellation Observing Atlas

By Grant Privett and Kevin Jones

Designed for anyone who wishes to learn the constellations or observe the best and brightest deep sky objects and double stars, this book contains an alphabetical list of constellations complete with star maps, historical background, and highlights of deep sky objects. Each entry contains position and physical information on enough stars to support astronomers in star-hopping, swinging the telescope from star to star to star to arrive at a faint target. It provides a carefully selected list of accessible and rewarding deep sky objects.

Full-color maps show the constellations, with star types (spectral and physical) indicated by the colors used on the map. Extended objects such as galaxies and nebulae are shown with the approximate apparent size in the sky. With unmatched thoroughness and accessibility, this is a constellation atlas that makes the ideal companion to a night's telescope viewing, for novices and expert amateur astronomers alike. Easy to navigate and refer to, it is the key that unlocks the door to greater night sky exploration.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Springer
• Release date: Aug 13, 2013
• ISBN: 9781461476481

Book preview

A978-1-4614-7648-1_CoverFigure.jpg

Grant Privett and Kevin JonesThe Patrick Moore Practical Astronomy SeriesThe Constellation Observing Atlas201310.1007/978-1-4614-7648-1© Springer Science+Business Media New York 2013

The Patrick Moore Practical Astronomy Series

Series EditorJohn Watson

Grant Privett and Kevin Jones

The Constellation Observing Atlas

A215483_1_En_BookFrontmatter_Figa_HTML.png

Grant Privett

Salisbury Wiltshire, UK

Kevin Jones

Calne Wiltshire, UK

ISSN 1431-9756

ISBN 978-1-4614-7647-4e-ISBN 978-1-4614-7648-1

Springer New York Heidelberg Dordrecht London

Library of Congress Control Number: 2013944210

© Springer Science+Business Media New York 2013

This work is subject to copyright. All rights are reserved by the Publisher, whether the whole or part of the material is concerned, specifically the rights of translation, reprinting, reuse of illustrations, recitation, broadcasting, reproduction on microfilms or in any other physical way, and transmission or information storage and retrieval, electronic adaptation, computer software, or by similar or dissimilar methodology now known or hereafter developed. Exempted from this legal reservation are brief excerpts in connection with reviews or scholarly analysis or material supplied specifically for the purpose of being entered and executed on a computer system, for exclusive use by the purchaser of the work. Duplication of this publication or parts thereof is permitted only under the provisions of the Copyright Law of the Publisher’s location, in its current version, and permission for use must always be obtained from Springer. Permissions for use may be obtained through RightsLink at the Copyright Clearance Center. Violations are liable to prosecution under the respective Copyright Law.

The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, service marks, etc. in this publication does not imply, even in the absence of a specific statement, that such names are exempt from the relevant protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general use.

While the advice and information in this book are believed to be true and accurate at the date of publication, neither the authors nor the editors nor the publisher can accept any legal responsibility for any errors or omissions that may be made. The publisher makes no warranty, express or implied, with respect to the material contained herein.

Cover illustration: Kris Black Design

Printed on acid-free paper

Springer is part of Springer Science+Business Media (www.springer.com)

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Wendy Jones and Rachel Privett; for putting up with them while this book was written, and for the coffee and proof reading. We promise it won’t happen again. Well, probably not for a while, anyway.

We would also like to extend our thanks to John Watson, for his encouragement during the preparation of this book and to Philip Moore, who provided so much help and support in creating the maps, and who was so patient when we got it wrong.

Thanks are also due to the amateur astronomers Bill Snyder, Chris Picking, David Ratledge, Martin Pugh and Prof. Greg Parker, who so kindly provided most of the fine images showing deep sky objects. All of the deep sky objects featured were selected as observable using normal home equipment – rather than the Hubble Space Telescope or a semi-professional observatory. Details of their personal websites may be found within Appendix 1.

Contents

1 Introduction:​ Background and How to Use This Book 1

Recognizing the Constellations 1

Makeup of Stars and Galaxies 2

Reference System 3

The Planets 3

Deep Sky Objects 4

Guide to the Map Pages 4

Greek Alphabet 5

Map Key 6

2 Constellation Maps 7

Andromeda 7

Historically 7

Notable Stars 7

Deep Sky Objects 8

Antlia 11

Historically 11

Notable Stars 11

Deep Sky Objects 11

Apus 13

Historically 13

Notable Stars 13

Deep Sky Objects 13

Aquarius 15

Historically 15

Notable Stars 15

Deep Sky Objects 15

Aquila 18

Historically 18

Notable Stars 18

Deep Sky Objects 18

Ara 20

Historically 20

Notable Stars 20

Deep Sky Objects 20

Aries 22

Historically 22

Notable Stars 22

Deep Sky Objects 22

Auriga 24

Historically 24

Notable Stars 24

Deep Sky Objects 24

Bootes 26

Historically 26

Notable Stars 26

Deep Sky Objects 26

Caelum 28

Historically 28

Notable Stars 28

Deep Sky Objects 28

Camelopardalis 30

Historically 30

Notable Stars 30

Deep Sky Objects 30

Cancer 33

Historically 33

Notable Stars 33

Deep Sky Objects 33

Canes Venatici 36

Historically 36

Notable Stars 36

Deep Sky Objects 36

Canis Major 40

Historically 40

Notable Stars 40

Deep Sky Objects 40

Canis Minor 42

Historically 42

Notable Stars 42

Deep Sky Objects 42

Capricornus 44

Historically 44

Notable Stars 44

Deep Sky Objects 44

Carina 46

Historically 46

Notable Stars 46

Deep Sky Objects 46

Cassiopeia 50

Historically 50

Notable Stars 50

Deep Sky Objects 50

Centaurus 52

Historically 52

Notable Stars 52

Deep Sky Objects 52

Cepheus 55

Historically 55

Notable Stars 55

Deep Sky Objects 55

Cetus 58

Historically 58

Notable Stars 58

Deep Sky Objects 58

Chamaeleon 60

Historically 60

Notable Stars 60

Deep Sky Objects 60

Circinus 62

Historically 62

Notable Stars 62

Deep Sky Objects 62

Columba 64

Historically 64

Notable Stars 64

Deep Sky Objects 64

Coma Berenices 66

Historically 66

Notable Stars 66

Deep Sky Objects 66

Corona Australis 68

Historically 68

Notable Stars 68

Deep Sky Objects 68

Corona Borealis 70

Historically 70

Notable Stars 70

Deep Sky Objects 70

Corvus 72

Historically 72

Notable Stars 72

Deep Sky Objects 72

Crater 74

Historically 74

Notable Stars 74

Deep Sky Objects 74

Crux 76

Historically 76

Notable Stars 76

Deep Sky Objects 76

Cygnus 79

Historically 79

Notable Stars 79

Deep Sky Objects 79

Delphinus 82

Historically 82

Notable Stars 82

Deep Sky Objects 82

Dorado 84

Historically 84

Notable Stars 84

Deep Sky Objects 84

Draco 87

Historically 87

Notable Stars 87

Deep Sky Objects 87

Equuleus 89

Historically 89

Notable Stars 89

Deep Sky Objects 89

Eridanus 91

Historically 91

Notable Stars 91

Deep Sky Objects 91

Fornax 93

Historically 93

Notable Stars 93

Deep Sky Objects 93

Gemini 95

Historically 95

Notable Stars 95

Deep Sky Objects 95

Grus 97

Historically 97

Notable Stars 97

Deep Sky Objects 97

Hercules 99

Historically 99

Notable Stars 99

Deep Sky Objects 99

Horologium 102

Historically 102

Notable Stars 102

Deep Sky Objects 102

Hydra 104

Historically 104

Notable Stars 104

Deep Sky Objects 104

Hydrus 106

Historically 106

Notable Stars 106

Deep Sky Objects 106

Indus 108

Historically 108

Notable Stars 108

Deep Sky Objects 108

Lacerta 110

Historically 110

Notable Stars 110

Deep Sky Objects 110

Leo 112

Historically 112

Notable Stars 112

Deep Sky 112

Leo Minor 116

Historically 116

Notable Stars 116

Deep Sky 116

Lepus 118

Historically 118

Notable Stars 118

Deep Sky Objects 118

Libra 120

Historically 120

Notable Stars 120

Deep Sky Objects 120

Lupus 122

Historically 122

Notable Stars 122

Deep Sky Objects 122

Lynx 124

Historically 124

Notable Stars 124

Deep Sky Objects 124

Lyra 126

Historically 126

Notable Stars 126

Deep Sky Objects 126

Mensa 129

Historically 129

Notable Stars 129

Deep Sky Objects 129

Microscopium 131

Historically 131

Notable Stars 131

Deep Sky Objects 131

Monoceros 133

Historically 133

Notable Stars 133

Deep Sky 133

Musca 136

Historically 136

Notable Stars 136

Deep Sky Objects 136

Norma 138

Historically 138

Notable Stars 138

Deep Sky Objects 138

Octans 140

Historically 140

Notable Stars 140

Deep Sky Objects 140

Ophiuchus 142

Historically 142

Notable Stars 142

Deep Sky Objects 142

Orion 145

Historically 145

Notable Stars 145

Deep Sky Objects 145

Pavo 148

Historically 148

Notable Stars 148

Deep Sky Objects 148

Pegasus 150

Historically 150

Notable Stars 150

Deep Sky Objects 150

Perseus 153

Historically 153

Notable Stars 153

Deep Sky Objects 153

Phoenix 156

Historically 156

Notable Stars 156

Deep Sky Objects 156

Pictor 158

Historically 158

Notable Stars 158

Deep Sky Objects 158

Pisces 160

Historically 160

Notable Stars 160

Deep Sky Objects 160

Piscis Austrinus 163

Historically 163

Notable Stars 163

Deep Sky Objects 163

Puppis 165

Historically 165

Notable Stars 165

Deep Sky 165

Pyxis 168

Historically 168

Notable Stars 168

Deep Sky Objects 168

Reticulum 170

Historically 170

Notable Stars 170

Deep Sky Objects 170

Sagitta 172

Historically 172

Notable Stars 172

Deep Sky Objects 172

Sagittarius 174

Historically 174

Notable Stars 174

Deep Sky Objects 174

Scorpius 177

Historically 177

Notable Stars 177

Deep Sky Objects 177

Sculptor 179

Historically 179

Notable Stars 179

Deep Sky Objects 179

Scutum 181

Historically 181

Notable Stars 181

Deep Sky Objects 181

Serpens Cauda and Serpens Caput 183

Historically 183

Notable Stars 183

Deep Sky Objects 183

Sextans 185

Historically 185

Notable Stars 185

Deep Sky Objects 185

Taurus 187

Historically 187

Notable Stars 187

Deep Sky Objects 187

Telescopium 190

Historically 190

Notable Stars 190

Deep Sky Objects 190

Triangulum 192

Historically 192

Notable Stars 192

Deep Sky Objects 192

Triangulum Australe 194

Historically 194

Notable Stars 194

Deep Sky Objects 194

Tucana 196

Historically 196

Notable Stars 196

Deep Sky Objects 196

Ursa Major 198

Historically 198

Notable Stars 198

Deep Sky Objects 198

Ursa Minor 201

Historically 201

Notable Stars 201

Deep Sky Objects 201

Vela 203

Historically 203

Notable Stars 203

Deep Sky Objects 203

Virgo 205

Historically 205

Notable Stars 205

Deep Sky Objects 205

Volans 208

Historically 208

Notable Stars 208

Deep Sky Objects 208

Vulpecula 210

Historically 210

Notable Stars 210

Deep Sky Objects 210

Additional Information215

Appendix217

Index219

Grant Privett and Kevin JonesThe Patrick Moore Practical Astronomy SeriesThe Constellation Observing Atlas201310.1007/978-1-4614-7648-1_1© Springer Science+Business Media New York 2013

Introduction: Background and How to Use This Book

Grant Privett¹  and Kevin Jones²

(1)

Salisbury Wiltshire, UK

(2)

Calne Wiltshire, UK

Abstract

If you go out to a dark site on a moonless clear night, at any given moment you will be able to see between 2,000 and 3,000 stars. The brightest of these form the shapes and patterns we recognize as the constellations. It would be daunting and pointless to try to remember the locations of all these stars. But to find your way around the sky and hunt down attractive double stars, variable stars or deep sky objects, you need only memorize the constellation outlines to provide a sky-wide series of reference points.

Recognizing the Constellations

If you go out to a