Monoceros
Constellation|name = Monoceros |abbreviation = Mon |genitive = Monocerotis |symbology = the
Unicorn|RA = 7.15 |dec= −5.74 |areatotal = 482 |arearank = 35th |numberstars = 0 |starname = α Monocerotis |starmagnitude = 3.93 |meteorshowers =
*
December Monocerids*
Alpha Monocerids |bordering =
*
Canis Major*
Canis Minor*
Gemini*
Hydra*
Lepus*
Orion*
Puppis |latmax = 75 |latmin = 85 |month = February |notes=}}
Monoceros (
Greek for
Unicorn) is a faint
constellation on the
winter night sky, surrounded by
Orion to the west,
Gemini to the north,
Canis Major to the south and
Hydra to the east. Other bordering constellations includes
Canis Minor,
Lepus and
Puppis.
Monoceros is an almost invisible constellation, with only a few fourth magnitude stars. Alpha Monocerotis has a
visual magnitude of 3.93, slightly brighter than Gamma Monocerotis, which has a visual magnitude of 3.98.
But Monoceros does have something interesting to see with the aid of a small
telescope. Beta Monocerotis is an impressive
triple star system, the three stars form a triangle which seems to be fixed. The visual magnitudes of the stars are 4.7, 5.2 and 6.1.
William Herschel discovered it in
1781 and commented it as 'one of the most beautiful sights in the heavens'.
Epsilon Monocerotis is a fixed
binary, with visual magnitudes of 4.5 and 6.5.
S Monocerotis, or 15 Monocerotis, is a bluish white
variable star and is located at the center of
NGC 2264. However the variation of its magnitude is not too great. It has a companion star of visual magnitude 8.
V838 Monocerotis had an outburst starting on
January 6,
2002.
Monoceros contains many clusters and nebulae, most notable among them;
*
M50, an
open cluster*The
Rosette Nebula (NGC 2237-9,46), a
diffuse nebula*The
Christmas Tree Cluster and associated
Cone Nebula (NGC 2264)
Monoceros is a modern constellation, generally supposed to be named by the Dutch astronomer and theologian
Petrus Plancius in
1613 and have been charted by
Jakob Bartsch as Unicornus in his star chart of
1624; but
Heinrich Wilhelm Olbers and
Ludwig Ideler indicate the constellation is actually much older, as "the second horse south of the
Twins and the
Crab", with it appearing in works as early at
1564, and
Joseph Scaliger is reported to have found it on an ancient
Persian sphere.
Since Monoceros is a modern constellation, it has no classical
mythology associated to it. However, in medieval mythology, the
unicorn is a
mythical animal, which resembles a
horse but bears a single, spiral horn on its forehead. Its horn is commonly believed to be able to cure poison. This animal is said to be uncatchable, and is often a symbol of chastity and purity.
:Stars with proper names::*
Luyten's star 9.85 – nearby star:*
Plaskett's star (HD 47129) 6.06 – massive spectroscopic binary:Stars with Bayer designations::*
26/α Mon 3.94;
11/β Mon – triple 3.76, 5.40, 5.60;
5/γ Mon 3.99;
22/δ Mon 4.15;
8/ε Mon – double 4.39, 6.72;
29/ζ Mon 4.36:Stars with Flamsteed designations:::
1 Mon 6.15;
2 Mon 5.04;
3 Mon 4.92;
6 Mon 6.76;
7 Mon 5.27;
9 Mon 6.50;
10 Mon 5.06;
12 Mon 5.88;
13 Mon 4.47;
14 Mon 6.44;
16 Mon 5.92;
17 Mon 4.77;
18 Mon 4.48;
19 Mon 4.99;
20 Mon 4.91;
21 Mon 5.44;
24 Mon 6.42;
25 Mon 5.14;
27 Mon 4.93;
28 Mon 4.69:Other notable stars::*
R Monocerotis 10-12 – variable star, in NGC 2261:*
HD 46375 7.84 – has a planet:*
HD 52265 6.30 – has a planet:*
Ross 614 – double 11.13, 14.60; nearby star:*
V838 Mon – variable star, "Monster Nova"
*
The Deep Photographic Guide to the Constellations: Monoceros*http://www.dibonsmith.com/mon_con.htm
*http://www.astronomical.org/constellations/mon.html
