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> Constellation of Centaurus
Constellation of Centaurus
author: A.Fujii/David Malin Images/Novapix
reference: a-cst15-00005
Image Size 300 DPI: 51 * 37 cm
Centaurus (the Centaur), is in one of the richest parts of the southern sky. At over 1000 square degrees it is the ninth largest constellation. It represents a centaur in Greek mythology, a half-man half-horse creature (Sagittarius is another). The learned centaur is the legendary inventor of the main constellations. Apart from a sparkling scattering of stars, the constellation also embraces one of the finest globular clusters, Omega Centauri and a few degrees north of it NGC 5128, the radio galaxy Centaurus A. Close to a Centaurus, the brightest star in the picture and, with ß Centaurus, one of the Pointers to the Southern Cross, is Proxima Cen. This faint star is not seen in this image, but at 4 light years distant is the closest star to the Sun. Norma, (originally Norma et Regula, the builder's level and set square) is an insignificant construction compared to the grandeur of Centaurus. Like the adjacent Circinus (the Drawing Compasses), it was invented by Nicolas de Lacaille, who charted the southern sky from South Africa in 1751-2 and felt obliged to fill vacant spaces in the sky with Enlightenment-inspired instruments of science. Circinus, Crux, and Lupus are also visible.
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