Wonders of the Sky
by constellation
[featuring 190 links(for now...). Last updated 2005.07.26]
in this order: stars (bright, double and multiple, variable, peculiars), deep sky objects (most visible with small instruments)
Abbreviations:
B Bright Star
D Double or Multiple Star
Dsp Spectroscopical Double Star
V Variable Star
SC Open Star Cluster
GC Globular Star Cluster
Pl Planetary Nebula
G Galaxy
GG Galaxy Group or Cluster
BN Bright Nebula
DN Dark Nebula
RS Radio Source
SNR Supernova Remnant
* in fourth column marks the most noteworthy objects
Andromeda
alpha |
B |
|
|
gamma |
D |
K0 and A0; seen orange and green; B component is a tight double |
* 1
2 |
36 |
D |
tight |
|
NGC 752 |
SC |
|
|
M 31 |
G |
most massive component of Local Group |
* SEDS
It
2 |
M 32 |
G |
|
|
M 110 |
G |
|
|
NGC 7662 |
Pl |
dia 30" mag. 9; minimum aperture 75 mm |
|
Antlia
zeta 1, zeta 2 |
D |
|
|
U |
V |
semiregular, mag. 5.7-6.8 |
|
NGC 2997 |
G |
easy |
|
NGC 3132 |
Pl |
|
|
Apus
delta 1, delta 2 |
D |
sep. 103" |
|
NGC 6101 |
GC |
dia 3'; minimum aperture 20 cm |
|
Aquarius
zeta |
D |
now close (1"); period uncertain, approx 500 y |
|
R |
V |
peculiar, occasionally reaches 6 mag.; with a nebula |
|
M 2 |
GC |
|
|
M 72 |
GC |
|
|
M 73 |
|
4 stars, not a real group |
|
NGC 7009 |
Pl |
Saturn Nebula |
|
NGC 7293 |
Pl |
Helical Nebula |
|
Aquila
alpha |
B |
recently recognized as variable (delta Scuti class) |
|
eta |
V |
cepheid |
|
pi |
D |
Struve 2583 |
|
sigma |
D |
eclipsing, beta Lyrae class |
|
chi |
D |
sep. 0.5", test for 20 cm instruments |
|
15 |
D |
|
|
23 |
D |
triple |
|
57 |
D |
|
|
Struve 2404 |
D |
mag. 6 and 7 |
|
NGC 6709 |
SC |
|
|
NGC 6760 |
GC |
|
|
NGC 6814 |
G |
|
|
Ara
R |
D |
eclipsing |
|
NGC 6193 |
SC |
|
|
NGC 6397 |
GC |
resolvable with 75 mm |
|
Aries
alpha |
B |
|
|
gamma |
D |
discovered by Robert Hooke, 1664 |
|
lambda |
D |
easy |
|
pi |
D |
|
|
53 |
|
runaway star |
|
NGC 772 |
G |
minim. aperture 25 cm |
|
Auriga
alpha |
B,Dsp |
|
|
epsilon |
D |
unique eclipsing variable; next eclipse due 2009-11. |
*
1 2
3
4
5 |
zeta |
D |
eclipsing; period 2.66 y; eclipse lasts for 50 d |
|
theta |
D |
easy |
|
omega |
D |
|
|
RT |
V |
cepheid; mag. 5.0-5.8 |
|
AE |
V |
runaway star |
|
M 36 |
SC |
|
|
M 37 |
SC |
|
|
M 38 |
SC |
|
|
NGC 1907 |
SC |
|
|
Bootes
alpha |
B |
Arcturus; is a Population II star |
* 1 |
epsilon |
D |
K0 and A2, orange and bluish, quite difficult |
|
zeta |
D |
|
|
iota |
D |
tight |
|
kappa |
D |
|
|
mu |
D |
|
|
nu1, nu 2 |
D |
|
|
xi |
D |
sep. 6.9'', period 200 yr |
|
44 |
D |
sep. 4.7''-0.4'', period 200 yr |
|
Caelum
Camelopardalis
beta |
D |
|
|
Struve 1694 |
D |
|
|
NGC 1502 |
SC |
in it Struve 485 (multiple) and SZ Cam (V) |
|
NGC 2403 |
G |
in M81-M82 group? |
* SEDS
It
Supernova
2004dj 4 |
Cancer
zeta |
D |
triple star |
* 1
2
3
4 |
iota |
D |
G8 and A3, golden and blue |
|
Y |
V |
La Superba; semiregular, very red, mag. 5.0-6.4 |
|
M 44 |
SC |
Praesepe (this name is very ancient; nothing to do with Christmas lore) |
* SEDS
It |
M67 |
SC |
visible in a binocular; best with 20-25 cm |
|
NGC 2775 |
G |
visible in a 20 cm telescope |
|
Canes Venatici
Near Supergalactic Equator, at high galactic latitude; rich in galaxies; 100 of them are visible in a 20 cm instrument.
alpha |
D |
|
|
M 3 |
GC |
|
|
M 51 |
G |
Whirlpool Galaxy |
* SEDS
It
APOD
NOAO |
M 63 |
G |
|
|
M 94 |
G |
|
|
M 106 |
G |
NGC 4258 |
|
Canis Major
alpha |
B,D |
Sirius |
*
1
2
color
Dogon |
beta |
B, V |
short period, small amplitude (0.03 mag) |
|
delta |
B |
|
|
epsilon |
B,D |
|
|
M 41 |
SC |
|
|
NGC 2362 |
SC |
around tau CMa |
|
Canis Minor
Capricornus
alpha 1, alpha 2 |
D |
apparent double; alpha 1 is double by itself and alpha 2 is triple. |
|
beta |
D |
triple: A mag. 3.2 sep. AB 205" |
|
omicron |
D |
mag. 6.1 and 6.6 sep. 21.2" |
|
pi |
D |
mag. 5.3 and 8.9 sep. 3.2" |
|
tau |
D |
mag. 5.8 and 6.3 sep. 0.3" |
|
RT |
V |
semiregular; mag. 6.5-8.1 |
|
M 30 |
GC |
|
|
Carina
in southern Milky Way
alpha |
B |
Canopus |
|
beta |
B |
|
|
epsilon |
B |
|
|
eta |
V |
unusual; in NGC 3372 bright nebula |
*
1 SEDS
2
APOD |
NGC 3372 |
BN |
|
1
2 |
upsilon |
D |
|
|
IC 2602 |
SC |
scattered; includes theta Car |
|
NGC 2516 |
SC |
|
|
NGC 2808 |
GC |
bright |
|
NGC 3532 |
SC |
|
* SEDS
2 |
Cassiopeia
in northern Milky Way
beta |
V |
the nearest delta Sct star |
|
gamma |
V |
erratic |
* 1
2
3 |
eta |
D |
|
|
iota |
D |
|
|
R |
V |
long period variable; mag 6.2-12 |
|
RZ |
D |
eclipsing |
|
M 52 |
SC |
|
|
M 103 |
SC |
|
|
NGC 457 |
SC |
Herschel described it as luminous, large, pretty rich. Brighter stars of mag. 8: around phi Cas |
|
NGC 7789 |
SC |
very rich, stars mag 11 -... |
|
Cas A |
RS |
SN remnant |
* SEDS |
Centaurus
alpha |
B,D |
triple system; Proxima is the nearest star |
*
APOD 2
3
Wiki |
beta |
B |
|
|
3 |
D |
|
|
R |
V |
long period variable; mag. 6-11 |
|
NGC 3918 |
Pl |
|
|
omega |
GC |
NGC 5139 |
* SEDS
APOD
APOD |
NGC 5128 |
G |
unusual; also a strong radio source (Cen A) |
* SEDS
2
3
4 |
Cepheus
beta |
D |
|
|
delta |
V, D |
eponimous of the Cepheids |
*
SEDS
AAVSO
3 |
mu |
V |
Garnet Star |
|
xi |
D |
|
|
omicron |
D |
|
|
VV |
D |
eclipsing, epsilon Aur type; per. 20 yr, next eclipse 2008 |
|
NGC 188 |
SC |
faint |
|
Cetus
alpha, 93 |
D |
wide pair, not physically connected |
|
gamma |
D |
mag. 3.5 and 7.3 sep. 2.7"; white and yellow |
|
omicron |
V |
Mira |
* AAVSO
2 |
tau |
|
nearby star |
|
M 77 |
G |
a Seyfert galaxy |
|
NGC 247 |
G |
Large (18'), but dim. Member of the Sculptor Group |
|
Chamaeleon
alpha, theta |
D |
wide; color contrast (white and orange) |
|
delta |
D |
mag. 6 and 6; sep. 0.6"; difficult |
|
NGC 3195 |
Pl |
min. aperture 10 cm |
|
Circinus
alpha |
D |
mag. 3.2 and 8.6 sep. 15.7" |
|
Columba
mu |
|
runaway star (with 53 Arietis and AE Aurigae) |
|
Coma Berenices
at Nothtern Galactic Pole, and on Supergalactic Equator; many galaxies, 30 of
them visible in a 20 cm telescope.
24 |
D |
|
|
Coma Star Cluster |
SC |
|
|
M 53 |
GC |
|
|
M 64 |
G |
|
|
M 85 |
G |
|
|
M 88 |
G |
|
|
M 98 |
G |
|
|
M 99 |
G |
|
|
M 100 |
G |
|
|
Coma Galaxy Cluster |
GG |
Abell 1656: 1000 galaxies, some of them barely visible in a 35 cm instrument |
* 1
2 SEDS
4
5
6
7
8
9
APOD |
Corona Australis
gamma |
D |
|
|
kappa |
D |
|
|
lambda |
D |
|
|
h 5014 |
D |
two stars mag. 5.7, sep. 1.8" in 1943, now very tight; period 190 y |
|
NGC 6541 |
GC |
|
|
NGC 6726, 6727 and 6729 |
BN |
with stars and dark patches |
|
Corona Borealis
eta |
D |
tight; per. 41.6 y |
|
zeta |
D |
|
|
nu 1, nu 2 |
D |
|
|
R |
V |
normally mag. 6, at times fades at 12 or 13 |
* AAVSO
SEDS
RAS
4 |
T |
V |
cataclismic variable or recurrent nova |
* 1 |
Corvus
delta |
D |
|
|
NGC 4038, 4039 |
G |
Antennae; colliding pair; min. aperture 15 cm |
* SEDS
2
3
APOD
5
6 |
Crater
nothing to declare
Crux
alpha |
B |
|
|
beta |
B |
|
|
mu |
D |
|
|
kappa, NGC 4755 |
SC |
Jewel Box |
* SEDS
APOD
3
4 |
Coal Sack |
DN |
|
* 1
SEDS
3
4 |
Cygnus
alpha |
B |
Deneb |
|
beta |
D |
Albireo |
*
1 2 |
omicron 1, 30 |
D |
a small group; omicron 1 itself is an eclipsing binary |
* |
chi |
V |
one of the most famous long period variables |
|
61 |
D |
triple; nearby star; first stellar distance to be measured (Bessel 1838) |
* Wiki
2
3
4 |
P |
V |
peculiar |
* SEDS
2
3
4
P
Cygni profile |
M 29 |
SC |
|
|
M 39 |
SC |
very loose |
|
NGC 6826 |
Pl |
|
|
NGC 6992 |
BN |
Cygnus Loop. Sn remnant; visible in a binocular 50mm; best in a 15X80. |
|
NGC 7000 |
BN |
North America |
|
Cygnus A |
RS |
Radio Galaxy |
|
Cygnus X-1 |
|
X-ray source; Black hole candidate |
* Wiki |
Delphinus
Dorado
beta |
V |
|
|
LMC |
G |
|
* SEDS
2
APOD
APOD |
NGC 2070 |
BN |
Tarantula Nebula; in LMC |
|
Draco
nu |
D |
|
|
xi |
D |
|
|
omicron |
D |
|
|
16, 17 |
D |
|
|
39 |
D |
triple |
|
40, 41 |
D |
|
|
NGC 6543 |
Pl |
at North Ecliptic Pole |
|
Equuleus
gamma |
D |
|
|
epsilon |
D |
triple. AB period 101 y |
|
Eridanus
alpha |
B |
Achernar |
|
epsilon |
|
nearby star |
|
theta |
D |
|
|
omicron 2 |
D |
|
|
p |
D |
easy; 21 ly distant, per. 480 y. Near Achernar |
|
32 |
D |
|
|
NGC 1535 |
Pl |
bright |
|
Fornax
alpha |
D |
|
|
Fornax System |
G |
dwarf galaxy; invisible in itself, contains some GC, visible in a 25 am aperture |
|
Fornax Galaxy Cluster |
GG |
18 bright galaxies, some geographically belonging to Eridanus. Brightest member is NGC 1365 |
* 1
2 |
Gemini
alpha |
B, D |
Castor; multiple, six stars in all. |
* 1 |
beta |
B |
Pollux |
|
epsilon |
D |
|
|
zeta |
V |
cepheid |
|
eta |
V, D |
Propus. Semiregular |
|
38 |
D |
|
|
M 35 |
SC |
|
|
NGC 2392 |
Pl |
Eskimo Nebula |
|
Grus
Hercules
Horologium
Hydra
alpha |
B |
|
|
epsilon |
D |
|
|
R |
V |
log period variable. Period steadily decreasing. Mag. 5-9 |
* It
SEDS
VSNET
AAVSO |
U |
V |
Very red. Carbon star. Mag. 4.7-6.2 |
|
V |
V |
Carbon star. Mag. 6.5-12 |
|
27 |
D |
|
|
54 |
D |
|
|
I |
D |
|
|
M 48 |
SC |
|
|
NGC 3242 |
Pl |
very bright |
|
M 68 |
GC |
|
|
M 83 |
G |
|
|
Hydrus
Indus
epsilon |
|
nearby star |
|
theta |
D |
|
|
Lacerta
BL |
G |
quasar, prototype of BL-Lac objects, mag. 14-17 |
*
It |
Leo
alpha |
B, D |
|
|
gamma |
D |
|
|
zeta |
D |
|
|
tau |
D |
|
|
R |
V |
|
|
Wolf 359 |
|
nearby star |
|
M 65 |
G |
|
|
M 66 |
G |
|
|
M 95 |
G |
|
|
M 96 |
G |
|
|
Leo Minor
nothing to declare
Lepus
gamma |
D |
|
|
R |
V |
very strog colour: Hind's ''Crimson Star''; long period variable, mag 5.5-11.3; per. 432 d |
|
NGC 2017 |
SC |
|
|
M 79 |
GC |
resolution begins in a 20 cm telescope; fully resolved in a 30 cm one |
|
Libra
alpha |
D |
|
|
delta |
V |
|
|
iota |
D |
multiple |
|
mu |
D |
|
|
NGC 5897 |
GC |
|
|
Lupus
epsilon |
D |
|
|
eta |
D |
|
|
kappa |
D |
|
|
mu |
D |
|
|
xi |
D |
|
|
pi |
D |
|
|
NGC 5822 |
SC |
|
|
Lynx
5 |
D |
|
|
12 |
D |
|
|
19 |
D |
|
|
38 |
D |
|
|
41 |
D |
|
|
NGC 4219 |
GC |
Extragalactic Wanderer; luminous (mag. 11) |
|
Lyra
alpha |
B |
|
|
beta |
D |
eclipsing double of peculiar class |
* 1
2 |
delta |
D, V |
|
|
epsilon |
D |
quadruple |
* 1
2 |
zeta |
D |
|
|
RR |
V |
eponimous of an important class of pulsating stars |
* 1
An archive of galactic RR
Lyrae |
M 56 |
GC |
|
|
M 57 |
Pl |
Ring Nebula |
|
Mensa
nothing to declare
Microscopium
Monoceros
beta |
D |
triple |
|
delta |
D |
|
|
epsilon |
D |
|
|
S |
V |
in NGC 2264 |
1 |
M 50 |
SC |
|
|
NGC 2232 |
SC |
|
|
Rosette Nebula |
BN |
NGC 2237, 38, 39, 46, sometimes referred to as NGC 2244 |
* APOD
2
3
SEDS |
NGC 2244 |
SC |
in Rosette Nebula |
* APOD |
NGC 2261 |
BN |
Hubble Variable Nebula; around the variable R Mon |
|
NGC 2264 |
SC |
Christmas Tree Cluster; near it is the dark Conus Nebula |
* SEDS
2
3 |
Musca
beta |
D |
|
|
theta |
D |
|
|
NGC 5182 |
|
peculiar nebula; classification uncertain. |
|
Norma
gamma 1, gamma 2 |
D |
|
|
epsilon |
D |
|
|
iota 1 |
D |
|
|
NGC 6087 |
SC |
|
|
Octans
lambda |
D |
|
|
sigma |
|
South Polar Star |
|
Ophiuchus
rho |
D |
in IC 4604 nebula |
|
tau |
D |
|
|
36 |
D |
|
|
70 |
D |
|
|
Barnard's Star |
|
nearby star |
* 1
SEDS
3 Wiki
5
6 |
IC 4665 |
SC |
|
|
NGC 6633 |
SC |
|
|
M 9 |
GC |
|
|
M 10 |
GC |
|
|
M 12 |
GC |
|
|
M 14 |
GC |
|
|
M 19 |
GC |
|
|
Orion
alpha |
B, V |
Betelgeuse |
*
1
SEDS |
beta |
B, D |
Rigel |
* 1 |
delta |
D |
|
|
zeta |
D |
|
|
eta |
D |
|
|
theta 1 |
D |
Trapezium; in M 42 |
* 1
2 |
theta 2 |
D |
in M 42 |
|
iota |
D |
|
|
lambda |
D |
|
|
sigma |
D |
multiple |
|
NGC 1981 |
SC |
|
|
M 42 |
BN |
|
* SEDS
It
3
4
5
6
7
8 |
M 43 |
BN |
|
|
M 78 |
BN |
|
|
Horsehead, B 33 |
DN |
difficult to the eye; try in a 15 cm instrument f/5 or more, 50x min. |
*
Google Images
APOD APOD
SEDS
NOAO
4 |
Pavo
alpha |
B |
|
|
kappa |
V |
class W Virginis |
|
xi |
D |
|
|
NGC 6752 |
SC |
|
|
Pegasus
beta |
V |
|
|
epsilon |
D |
|
|
1 |
D |
|
|
M 15 |
GC |
|
|
Stephan's Quintet |
GG |
|
* 1
APOD
APOD
4
5
6 |
Perseus
alpha |
B |
in a star cluster |
|
beta |
D |
Algol; eclipsing |
* 1 |
epsilon |
D |
|
|
zeta |
D |
in the OB association Perseus II |
|
eta |
D |
|
|
rho |
V |
semiregular |
|
h + chi (NGC 869 and NGC 884) |
SC |
Double Cluster |
* SEDS
2
3
4
5
6 |
M 34 |
SC |
|
|
M 76 |
SC |
|
|
NGC 1275 |
G, RS |
at the core of Perseus Galaxy Cluster |
|
Phoenix
beta |
D |
mag. 4.0 and 4.2, sep. 1.4" |
|
zeta |
V, D |
|
|
Pictor
beta |
|
with protoplanetary disk |
|
Kapteyn Star |
|
nearby, high proper motion |
|
Pisces
alpha |
D |
|
|
zeta |
D |
|
|
rho |
D |
|
|
psi 1 |
D |
|
|
TX |
V |
|
|
M 74 |
G |
|
|
Piscis Austrinus
Puppis
xi |
D |
|
|
k |
D |
|
|
L 2 |
V |
semiregular |
|
V |
D |
eclipsing |
|
M 46 |
SC |
|
|
M 47 |
SC |
|
|
NGC 2451 |
SC |
|
|
Pyxis
T |
V |
recurrent nova, roughly an outburst every 20 years;
last one in 1967 |
|
Reticulum
Sagitta
zeta |
D |
|
|
WZ |
V |
recurrent nova |
|
FG |
V |
unusual; a very slow nova? |
*
1 |
M 71 |
GC |
|
|
Sagittarius
beta 1, beta 2 |
D |
|
|
upsilon |
D |
eclipsing; beta Lyrae type |
|
W |
V |
|
|
X |
V |
|
|
M 8 |
BN |
Lagoon Nebula; in it the stellar cluster NGC 6530 |
|
M 17 |
BN |
Omega Nebula |
|
M 18 |
SC |
|
|
M 20 |
BM |
Trifid Nebula |
|
M 21 |
SC |
|
|
M 22 |
GC |
|
|
M 23 |
SC |
|
|
M 24 |
SC |
star cloud |
|
M 25 |
SC |
|
|
M 28 |
GC |
|
|
M 54 |
GC |
|
|
M 55 |
GC |
|
|
M 69 |
GC |
|
|
M 70 |
GC |
|
|
M 75 |
GC |
|
|
NGC 6530 |
SC |
|
|
NGC 6822 |
G |
|
|
Sgr A |
RS |
at the center of Milky Way |
* 1
2
APOD
APOD
5
Chandra |
Pipe Nebula |
DN |
its shape resembles rather a boomerang than a pipe; prominent in wide field long exposure Milky Way photos |
* APOD
2
It
It
5 6
7
8 |
Scorpius
alpha |
B, V, D |
Antares |
|
beta |
D |
|
|
zeta 1, zeta 2 |
D |
|
|
mu 1, mu 2 |
D |
mu 1 is double on itself |
|
nu |
D |
|
|
xi |
D |
|
|
omega 1, omega 2 |
D |
|
|
M 4 |
GC |
|
|
M 6 |
SC |
|
|
M 7 |
SC |
|
|
M 62 |
GC |
|
|
M 80 |
GC |
in it appeared the nova 1860 (T Sco) |
|
NGC 6231 |
SC |
|
|
Sculptor
at Southern Galactic Pole
epsilon |
D |
|
|
kappa 1 |
D |
|
|
R |
V |
|
|
NGC 55 |
G |
|
|
NGC 253 |
G |
visible in a binocular |
* SEDS
APOD
APOD
3
4
5
6 |
Scutum
delta |
V |
|
*
1
AAVSO |
R |
V |
|
|
M 11 |
SC |
|
|
M 26 |
SC |
|
|
Serpens Caput
beta |
D |
|
|
delta |
D |
|
|
theta |
D |
|
|
M 5 |
GC |
|
|
Serpens Cauda
nu |
D |
|
|
tau 1 |
SC |
|
|
M 16 |
SC |
near gamma Scuti; in Aquila Nebula |
|
Sextans
Taurus
Telescopium
Triangulum
Triangulum Australe
iota |
D |
|
|
R |
V |
cepheid |
|
S |
V |
cepheid |
|
Herschel 4809 |
D |
|
|
NGC 6025 |
SC |
|
|
Tucana
beta |
D |
multiple |
|
delta |
D |
|
|
kappa |
D |
|
|
47 |
GC |
|
|
NGC 362 |
GC |
|
|
SMC |
G |
|
* SEDS
2
APOD
4 |
Ursa Major
zeta, 80 |
D |
Mizar (double in itself) and Alcor |
|
xi |
D |
|
|
Ursa Major Group |
SC |
|
|
M 81 |
G |
|
|
M 82 |
G |
|
* SEDS
SEDS
APOD
NOAO |
M 97 |
Pl |
Owl Nebula |
|
M 101 |
G |
|
|
Ursa Minor
alpha |
B, V, D |
Polaris |
* Wiki |
gamma |
D |
|
|
Vela
gamma |
D |
|
|
delta |
D |
|
|
IC 2391 |
SC |
|
|
NGC 2547 |
SC |
|
|
Virgo
Volans
Vulpecula
alpha |
D |
|
|
M 27 |
Pl |
Dumbell Nebula |
|