SkyEye

Lynx

The Lynx

Abbreviation:Lyn
Genitive:Lyncis
Origin:Johannes Hevelius, 1690
Fully Visible:28°S – 90°N

German/Polish astronomer Johannes Hevelius (1611–1687) created this constellation in the late seventeenth century. It possesses no bright stars and supposedly Hevelius named it Lynx because only the lynx-eyed (those with exceptionally good eyesight) can spot it! However, he actually labelled it Lynx sive Tigris, 'Lynx or Tiger'. Prior to this, many of these stars were part of the now-obsolete constellation of Jordanus Fluvius.

The constellation of Lynx

Notable Features

Visible Named Stars
31 Lyn Alsciaukat This fourth-magnitude star sometimes appears as Shaukah in older star atlases and catalogues.
Other Interesting Stars
HD 75898 Stribor This eighth-magnitude star is known to have at least one exoplanet. It is located south of 10 UMa.
WASP‑13 Gloas This tenth-magnitude star is known to have at least one exoplanet. A telescope is needed to spot is near α Lyn.
XO‑4 Koit Located not far from 15 Lyn, this eleventh-magnitude star is known to have at least one exoplanet.
XO‑5 Absolutno This twelfth-magnitude star is known to have at least one exoplanet and is found near the globular cluster C25.
Deep Sky Objects
C25 This globular cluster (also known as NGC 2419) lies further from the Milky Way than the Magellanic Clouds and takes about 3 billion years to orbit our galaxy. A small telescope is necessary to view it.