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Hawaiian Astronomical Society

Constellations: Lynx

Myth

Johannes Hevelius (1611-87) named this little grouping of stars Lynx after the European form of the animal in 1690. It contains some close double stars, but little else of note.

Maps

Each map can be clicked on to produce a 909x1199 version of it. They sport red labels, which look good on screen, but which disappear when used with red flashlights. Each map, therefore has a second link to a map better suited for printing in a graphics program, and using in the field. While they are quite large, they are all about 50k, and so are easy to view at today's modem speeds. The first map is a wide area view of the constellation, suitable for naked eye browsing. The next views are binocular width, showing stars to mag. 10, deepsky objects to mag. 12.9, and labeling deepsky objects to magnitude 12.

Interactive, wide area map of Lynx

Map thumbnail

Click the map for a 909x1199 version of the above. Click here for a map better suited for use in the field.

South-eastern Area

Map thumbnail

This a more detailed view of the constellation. The map displays stars to magnitude 10, and deepsky objects to magnitude 12. Click here for a map better suited for use in the field.

North-western Area

Map thumbnail

Click here for a map better suited for use in the field.

Images

Image thumbnail 49k JPEG NGC2683 (Best 67) is an edge on spiral galaxy located in southern Lynx, 55' north of Sigma 1 Cancri. Dreyer describes it as very bright (mag. 10.4), very large (9.3'x2.2'), and very moderately extended in p.a. 39°. It brightens gradualy, but very much toward the middle. This galaxy shows details in a 10" and benefits from relatively high magnifications.

Image by Jerry and Wanda Mulchin, taken on a 10", f6.3 SCT with an SBIG ST-8 camera.
Map Printable Map

Image thumbnail 22k JPEG NGC2419 (Caldwell 25) is a globular cluster described as fairly bright (mag. 10.4), and fairly large (4'). It contains no stars brighter than mag. 17, and cannot be resolved in amateur scopes. How did this least resolvable of globulars make the Caldwell list? It is the most distant globular that belongs to our galaxy. That said, at 210,000 light years, it sits farther out than the Large Magellanic Cloud. Located 7° north of Castor (Alpha Geminorum), it sits in a sparse area of sky. A mag. 7 star sits 4' west of the cluster. Image from the Digital Sky Survey.
Map Printable Map

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