SkyEye

Centaurus

Deep Sky Objects

NGC 3766 is an open star cluster, one of many in this part of the sky. NGC 3918 is revealed as a planetary nebula through a telescope. The unusual radio galaxy Centaurus A is formally known as NGC 5128. The biggest and brightest globular cluster in the sky is NGC 5139, Omega Centauri. Visible to the naked eye, a small telescope will reveal its brightest stars. NGC 5460 is another open cluster visible with optical aids.

Stars With (Un)Common Names

alpha

Rigil Kentaurus is known to navigators as Rigil Kent but most refer to this star simply as alpha Centauri. It is a first magnitude star and the closest one to the Sun.

beta

Hadar is also known as Agena and is a first magnitude star.

gamma

Muhlifain

theta

Menkent

Meteor Shower Radiants

The Alpha Centaurids are fast and bright, with many of them leaving trains. Confusingly, the radiant is near Hadar, not alpha Centauri.

Sky Charts

• 1300 Hours Sidereal Time (45° North)
• 1500 Hours Sidereal Time (45° North)

• 0500 Hours Sidereal Time (30° South)
• 0700 Hours Sidereal Time (30° South)
• 0900 Hours Sidereal Time (30° South)
• 1100 Hours Sidereal Time (30° South)
• 1300 Hours Sidereal Time (30° South)
• 1500 Hours Sidereal Time (30° South)
• 1700 Hours Sidereal Time (30° South)
• 1900 Hours Sidereal Time (30° South)
• 2100 Hours Sidereal Time (30° South)
• 2300 Hours Sidereal Time (30° South)

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Last modified on 1 January 2007