The Pillars of Creation are famous pillars of gas and dust found in one of the several star-forming regions of the Eagle Nebula, Messier 16. The region was named after a photograph taken by the Hubble Space Telescope on April 1, 1995. The stars formed in this region have surface temperatures exceeding 30,000 degrees Celsius… Read More »Pillars of Creation| Messier Objects
Messier 16 (M16), the famous Eagle Nebula, is a star-forming nebula with a young open star cluster located in Serpens. M16 lies near the borders with the constellations Sagittarius and Scutum. The nebula is best known for the Pillars of Creation region, three large pillars of gas famously photographed by Hubble in 1995. Also known… Read More »Messier 16: Eagle Nebula| Messier Objects
The Sombrero Galaxy (Messier 104, NGC 4594), is a peculiar galaxy located 31.1 million light-years away in the constellation Virgo, near the border with Corvus. It can be spotted in binoculars and small telescopes.| www.constellation-guide.com
Corvus, the Crow, is a small constellation in the southern sky. It represents the sacred bird of Apollo. The constellation is home to the navigational star Gienah and the famous Antennae Galaxies (NGC 4038 and NGC 4039).| www.constellation-guide.com
Equatorial constellations are the 15 constellations that intersect the celestial equator. These are among the most universally recognizable constellations in the sky, visible from most places on Earth. They culminate highest when seen from locations near the equator.| www.constellation-guide.com
Learn about the 88 modern constellations, their names, history, how to identify them, why we see different constellations at different times of year, and other fun facts.| www.constellation-guide.com
Hydra is the largest constellation in the sky. Located in the southern celestial hemisphere, the constellation contains the open cluster Messier 48, the Porpoise Galaxy (NGC 2936), and the Southern Pinwheel Galaxy (M83).| www.constellation-guide.com
Cygnus, the Swan, is one of the largest northern constellations. Recognizable for the Northern Cross, it is home to the bright supergiant Deneb, the North America Nebula (NGC 7000) and the Gamma Cygni Nebula (IC 1318).| www.constellation-guide.com
Libra is one of the southern zodiac constellations. It is home to Methuselah Star (HD 140283), one of the oldest stars known, the nearby red dwarf Gliese 581, and the barred spiral galaxies NGC 5885 and NGC 5792.| www.constellation-guide.com
Hercules is one of the largest constellations in the sky. Representing the mythical Greek hero, the constellation is home to the Hercules Globular Cluster (M13), the globular cluster Messier 92, and the Hercules Cluster of galaxies.| www.constellation-guide.com
Boötes (the Herdsman or Plowman) is a large northern constellation dominated by a kite-shaped asterism. The constellation is home to Arcturus, the brightest northern star, and the contrasting double star Izar.| www.constellation-guide.com
Ara is a small constellation in the southern sky. It represents the altar. It contains the open clusters NGC 6193 and the Ara Cluster, the planetary nebula known as the Stingray Nebula, and the pre-planetary Water Lily Nebula.| www.constellation-guide.com
Lupus (the Wolf) is a southern constellation located between Scorpius and Centaurus. It hosts the historic supernova remnant SN 1006, the globular clusters NGC 5824 and NGC 5986, and the Retina Nebula (IC 4406).| www.constellation-guide.com
Crux is the smallest and most distinctive constellation in the southern sky. Recognizable for the Southern Cross, formed by its brightest stars, it is home to the dark Coalsack Nebula and the Jewel Box Cluster (NGC 4755).| www.constellation-guide.com
Cassiopeia is a prominent constellation in the northern sky. Recognizable for its W shape, the constellation is home to the Heart Nebula, the Soul Nebula, the Pacman Nebula, and the open clusters Messier 52 and Messier 103.| www.constellation-guide.com
Centaurus is a large constellation located in the southern celestial hemisphere. It is home to Alpha Centauri, the nearest star system to Earth, the bright galaxy Centaurus A, and the globular cluster Omega Centauri.| www.constellation-guide.com
Virgo is the second largest constellation in the sky. It is home to the Sombrero Galaxy (M104), the Virgo Cluster of galaxies, and Spica, one of the brightest stars in the sky.| www.constellation-guide.com
Lyra is a small constellation in the northern sky. It represents the lyre of Orpheus. The constellation is home to Vega, the second brightest northern star, and the Ring Nebula (M57), a famous planetary nebula.| www.constellation-guide.com
Vulpecula is a faint constellation in the northern sky. It represents the little fox. The constellation is home to the red giant Anser, the Dumbbell Nebula (M27), and as asterism known as the Coathanger.| www.constellation-guide.com
Sagittarius is a large constellation in the southern sky. It is one of the constellations of the zodiac. It contains the Milky Way centre and some of the best known nebulae in the sky.| www.constellation-guide.com
The list of all the named stars (stars with names that have been formally approved by the IAU), with name origins and etymologies explained.| Star Facts
Scorpius is a zodiac constellation located in the southern sky. It is home to Antares, one of the brightest stars in the sky, and to the bright open clusters Messier 6 (the Butterfly Cluster) and Messier 7 (Ptolemy's Cluster).| www.constellation-guide.com
Ophiuchus, the Serpent Bearer, is a large constellation near the celestial equator. Representing the healer Asclepius in Greek mythology, the constellation is visible from both hemispheres.| www.constellation-guide.com
Antares, Alpha Scorpii (α Sco) is a red supergiant and supernova candidate located at a distance of 550 ly from Earth in the constellation Scorpius. It is the brightest star in Scorpius and one of the brightest stars in the sky.| Star Facts
Aquila, the Eagle, is a prominent northern constellation located near the celestial equator. It contains the bright Altair and the planetary nebulae NGC 6741 (the Phantom Streak Nebula) and NGC 6751 (the Glowing Eye Nebula).| www.constellation-guide.com
Mira, Omicron Ceti (ο Cet), is a red giant star located at a distance of 300 ly from Earth in the constellation Cetus. It is a pulsating variable star and a prototype for its own class, known as the Mira variables.| Star Facts
Greek constellations are the 48 ancient constellations listed by the Greek astronomer Claudius Ptolemy in his Almagest in the 2nd century CE. Most of them are associated with stories from Greek mythology.| www.constellation-guide.com