Monoceros - History, Stars

A N constellation in the Milky Way, next to Orion, containing several clusters and nebulae.

Monoceros
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Abbreviation	Mon
Genitive	Monocerotis
Symbology	the Unicorn
Right ascension	7.15 h
Declination	−5.74°
Area	482 sq. 3)	0
Brightest star	α Monocerotis (App. magnitude 3.93)
Meteor showers	December Monocerids Alpha Monocerids
Bordering constellations	Canis Major Canis Minor Gemini Hydra Lepus Orion Puppis
Visible at latitudes between +75° and −85° Best visible at 21:00 (9 p.m.) during the month of February

Monoceros (IPA: /məˈnɒsərəs/, Greek: 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.

M50, an open cluster The Rosette Nebula (NGC 2237-9,46), a diffuse nebula The Christmas Tree Cluster and associated Cone Nebula (NGC 2264)

History

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;

Stars

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; 8/ε Mon – double 4.39, 6.72; 29/ζ Mon 4.36 Stars with Flamsteed designations: 1 Mon 6.15; 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"