Gemini (the Twins) is one of the northern zodiac constellations. It is home to the bright stars Pollux and Castor, the open cluster Messier 35, the planetary nebula known as the Medusa Nebula, and the supernova remnant IC 443 (the Jellyfish Nebula).| www.constellation-guide.com
Alnitak, Zeta Orionis (ζ Ori), is a triple star system located at a distance of 1,260 light years. It forms Orion's Belt with Alnilam and Mintaka.| Star Facts
Messier 78 (M78) is a reflection nebula located in the northern constellation Orion, the Hunter. M78 is the brightest diffuse reflection nebula in the sky. It has an apparent magnitude of 8.3 and lies at an approximate distance of 1,600 light years from Earth. It has the designation NGC 2068 in the New General Catalogue.… Read More »Messier 78| Messier Objects
The Flame Nebula (NGC 2024) is an emission nebula located 1,350 light years away in the constellation Orion. It is illuminated by the supergiant Alnitak, the easternmost star of Orion's Belt.| 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
Monoceros is a relatively faint northern constellation located between Canis Major and Canis Minor. It is home to the famous variable star V838 Monocerotis, the open cluster Messier 50, and the Rosette Nebula.| 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
Aquarius is one of the constellations of the zodiac. Representing the Water Bearer, the constellation is home to the yellow supergiants Sadalsuud and Sadalmelik and the famous Helix Nebula.| www.constellation-guide.com
Asterisms are defined as patterns formed by stars of one or more constellations. These star patterns are commonly recognized by observers across the world and once served as a basis for the modern 88 constellations.| www.constellation-guide.com
The Horsehead Nebula (B33) is a dark nebula located 1,375 light-years away in the constellation Orion. It is part of one of the nearest massive stellar nurseries to the Sun. It appears in the region of Orion's Belt.| www.constellation-guide.com
Rigel (β Ori) is a blue-whlue-white supergiant star located 848 light-years away in the constellation Orion. It is the most luminous star within 1,000 ly of Earth.| Star Facts
Orion's Sword is one of three major asterisms in the constellation Orion, along with Orion's Belt and Orion's Shield. It is formed by three multiple star systems -- 42 Orionis, Theta Orionis, and Iota Orionis -- and the bright, large Orion Nebula (Messier 42).| www.constellation-guide.com
Lepus is a northern constellation located just south of Orion. It contains the white supergiant Arneb, the famous variable star R Leporis (Hind's Crimson Star), the globular cluster Messier 79, and the Spirograph Nebula.| www.constellation-guide.com
Orion, the Hunter, is one of the best known constellations in the sky. Home to Orion's Belt, the Orion Nebula, and the bright stars Rigel and Betelgeuse, the constellation lies north of the celestial equator and is visible from both hemispheres.| www.constellation-guide.com
Canis Major is a constellation in the southern sky. It represents the bigger dog following Orion, the Hunter. The constellation is home to Sirius, the brightest star in the sky, and the Canis Major Dwarf Galaxy.| www.constellation-guide.com
Hatysa (ι Ori) is the primary component in a multiple star system located 1,340 light-years away in the constellation Orion. It forms Orion’s Sword with 42 Orionis, Theta Orionis, and the Orion Nebula (M42).| Star Facts
Bellatrix, Gamma Orionis (γ Ori), is a main sequence star located at a distance of 250 ly in Orion constellation. Also known as the Amazon Star, it marks Orion's left shoulder.| Star Facts
Betelgeuse, Alpha Orionis (α Ori), is a red supergiant star and supernova candidate located 548 light-years away in the constellation Orion. Marking the Hunter's shoulder, it is one of the most recognizable stars in the night sky.| Star Facts
Sirius, Alpha Canis Majoris (α CMa), is the brightest star in the sky. The Sirius star system lies at a distance of 8.6 ly from Earth in the constellation Canis Major. It can be found using the stars of Orion's Belt.| Star Facts
The Christmas Tree Cluster is a young open cluster located in the constellation Monoceros. It is part of the star-forming region NGC 2264, which also contains the Cone Nebula and the Fox Fur Nebula.| 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
Taurus is a large constellation in the northern sky. It is home to Aldebaran, one of the brightest stars in the sky, the Crab Nebula, a supernova remnant, and the Pleiades and the Hyades, the nearest open clusters to Earth.| www.constellation-guide.com
Messier 45 (M45), also known as the Pleiades or Seven Sisters, is a bright open star cluster located in the constellation Taurus, the Bull. The Pleiades cluster has an apparent magnitude of 1.6 and lies at an average distance of 444 light years from Earth. The cluster is also known as Melotte 22. It does… Read More »Messier 45: Pleiades| Messier Objects
Messier 42 (M42), the famous Orion Nebula, is an emission-reflection nebula located in the constellation Orion, the Hunter. With an apparent magnitude of 4.0, the Orion Nebula is one of the brightest nebulae in the sky and is visible to the naked eye. It lies at a distance of 1,344 light years from Earth and… Read More »Messier 42: Orion Nebula| Messier Objects
Procyon, Alpha Canis Minoris (α CMi), is the eighth brightest star in the sky. It is the primary component in a binary star system located 11.46 light-years away in the constellation Canis Minor.| Star Facts
The nearest stars to the Sun include some of the brightest stars in the sky, but the majority of the 100 nearest stars are faint red dwarfs, like our nearest neighbour Proxima Centauri.| Star Facts
The Southern Cross is a bright, diamond-shaped asterism located in the far southern sky. Formed by the brightest stars of the constellation Crux, the asterism is commonly used to find the south celestial pole.| www.constellation-guide.com
The Winter Hexagon, or the Winter Circle, is a prominent asterism formed by the bright stars Rigel, Aldebaran, Capella, Castor and Pollux, Procyon and Sirius.| www.constellation-guide.com
Pollux, Beta Geminorum (β Gem), is an orange giant star located at a distance of 33.78 ly in the constellation Gemini. It is 43 times more luminous than the Sun.| Star Facts
Aldebaran, Alpha Tauri (α Tau), is an orange giant star located at a distance of 65.3 ly from Earth in the constellation Taurus. It marks the eye of the Bull.| Star Facts
The Big Dipper is an asterism formed by the seven brightest stars in the constellation Ursa Major. It is also known as the Plough, the Saucepan, and the Great Wagon.| www.constellation-guide.com
The list of the 300 brightest stars in the night sky, along with the stars' Bayer designations, apparent magnitudes, distances, and spectral types.| 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
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
Deneb (α Cyg) is a blue-white supergiant located 2,615 light-years from Earth in the constellation Cygnus. The luminous star forms the Summer Triangle with Vega and Altair.| Star Facts