Lynx (constellation)
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| Lynx | |
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| Abbreviation | Lyn |
| Genitive | Lyncis |
| Symbology | the Lynx |
| Right ascension | 8 h |
| Declination | +45° |
| Area | 545 sq. deg. Ranked 28th |
| Number of stars (magnitude < 3) |
0 |
| Brightest star | α Lyn (App. magnitude 3.14) |
| Meteor showers |
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| Bordering constellations |
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| Visible at latitudes between +90° and −55° Best visible at 21:00 (9 p.m.) during the month of March |
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Lynx (IPA: /ˈlɪnks/) is a constellation of the northern hemisphere, introduced in the 17th century by Johannes Hevelius. It is so named because it is a relatively faint constellation, and one would supposedly need the eyes of a lynx to see it.
Its most notable deep sky object is the Intergalactic Tramp NGC 2419, a globular cluster that is the most distant known of its kind. It is moving faster than escape velocity at that distance; however, it appears to be in a long elliptical orbit around our galaxy, the Milky Way, and is thus not expected to escape.
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[edit] Mythology
Since Lynx is a particularly faint constellation, and was not recognised before the 17th century, it has no pre 17th century mythology associated with it. Johannes Hevelius is said to have named the constellation lynx because only the lynx-eyed (or those of good sight) would have been able to recognise it. Hevelius only mapped the constellation, which is little more than a few dim stars zig zagging in a line, because he wanted to fill the open gap between the constellations Ursa Major and Auriga.
[edit] Stars
- Stars with proper names:
- (31 Lyn) 4.25 Alsciaukat (from Arabic al-shauka = "the thorn") or Mabsuthat (from Arabic mabsūţa = "extended").
- Stars with Bayer designations:
- 40/α Lyn 3.14
- Stars with Flamsteed designations:
- 1 Lyn 5.01; 2 Lyn 4.44; 3 Lyn 7.33; 4 Lyn 6.05; 5 Lyn 5.21; 6 Lyn 5.86; 7 Lyn 6.45; 8 Lyn 5.94; 11 Lyn 5.87; 12 Lyn 4.86; 13 Lyn 5.34; 14 Lyn – double 5.34, 11.1; 15 Lyn 4.35; 16 Lyn 4.90; 17 Lyn 6.64; 18 Lyn 5.20; 19 Lyn – double 5.80, 6.86; 20 Lyn 7.59; 21 Lyn 4.61; 22 Lyn 5.35; 23 Lyn 6.09; 24 Lyn 4.93; 25 Lyn 6.25; 26 Lyn 5.47; 27 Lyn 4.78; 28 Lyn 6.35; 29 Lyn 5.63; 30 Lyn 5.89; 32 Lyn 6.20; 33 Lyn 5.76; 34 Lyn 5.35; 35 Lyn 5.15; 36 Lyn 5.30; 37 Lyn 6.14; 38 Lyn 3.82; 41 Lyn 5.40; 42 Lyn 5.28; 43 Lyn 5.61; 44 Lyn 5.09
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Constellations introduced by Johannes Hevelius in the 1690 text Firmamentum Sobiescianum. |
| Canes Venatici | Lacerta | Leo Minor | Lynx | Scutum | Sextans | Vulpecula |
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Obsolete Constellations introduced by Johannes Hevelius in the 1690 text Firmamentum Sobiescianum. |
| Cerberus | Mons Maenalus | Triangulum Minor |
| The 88 modern Constellations |
|---|
| Andromeda • Antlia • Apus • Aquarius • Aquila • Ara • Aries • Auriga • Boötes • Caelum • Camelopardalis • Cancer • Canes Venatici • Canis Major • Canis Minor • Capricornus • Carina • Cassiopeia • Centaurus • Cepheus • Cetus • Chamaeleon • Circinus • Columba • Coma Berenices • Corona Australis • Corona Borealis • Corvus • Crater • Crux • Cygnus • Delphinus • Dorado • Draco • Equuleus • Eridanus • Fornax • Gemini • Grus • Hercules • Horologium • Hydra • Hydrus • Indus • Lacerta • Leo • Leo Minor • Lepus • Libra • Lupus • Lynx • Lyra • Mensa • Microscopium • Monoceros • Musca • Norma • Octans • Ophiuchus • Orion • Pavo • Pegasus • Perseus • Phoenix • Pictor • Pisces • Piscis Austrinus • Puppis • Pyxis • Reticulum • Sagitta • Sagittarius • Scorpius • Sculptor • Scutum • Serpens • Sextans • Taurus • Telescopium • Triangulum • Triangulum Australe • Tucana • Ursa Major • Ursa Minor • Vela • Virgo • Volans • Vulpecula |
[edit] Sources
- Universe: The Definitive Visual Dictionary, Robert Dinwiddie, DK Adult Publishing, (2005), pg. 346.
[edit] External links
