| Constellation | |
 List of stars in Lynx |
|
| Abbreviation | Lyn |
|---|---|
| Genitive | Lyncis |
| Pronunciation | /ˈlɪŋks/, genitive /ˈlɪnsɨs/ |
| Symbolism | the Lynx |
| Right ascension | 8 |
| Declination | +45 |
| Area | 545 sq. deg. (28th) |
| Main stars | 4 |
| Bayer/Flamsteed stars |
42 |
| Stars with known planets |
5 |
| Bright stars | 0 |
| Nearby stars | 0 |
| Brightest star | α Lyn (3.14m) |
| Nearest star | HD 55575 (55 ly) |
| Messier objects | 0 |
| Meteor showers | ????? ????? |
| Bordering constellations |
Ursa Major Camelopardalis Auriga Gemini Cancer Leo (corner) Leo Minor |
| Visible at latitudes between +90° and −55°. Best visible at 21:00 (9 p.m.) during the month of March. |
|
Lynx is a constellation in the northern sky, introduced in the 17th century by Johannes Hevelius. It is named after the lynx, a genus of cat. It is a very faint constellation; its brightest stars form a zigzag line.
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History
Johannes Hevelius defined the constellation in the 17th century because he wanted to fill the open gap between the constellations Ursa Major and Auriga. He supposedly named it Lynx because of its faintness: only the lynx-eyed (or those of good sight) would have been able to recognise it.
Notable features
The star 31 Lyncis, or κ Lyn, also known as Alsciaukat (from the Arabic for the thorn), is the only named star in this constellation.
Lynx's most notable deep sky object is the Intergalactic Tramp NGC 2419, a globular cluster that is one of the most distant known of its kind. It is moving faster than escape velocity at that distance; however, it appears to be in a long elliptical orbit around our galaxy, the Milky Way, and is thus not expected to escape. [The two facts in the previous sentence are contradictory: escape velocity means the velocity at which it will escape.] It also contains, close to the border with Cancer, the galaxy NGC 2683.
References
- Universe: The Definitive Visual Dictionary, Robert Dinwiddie et al., DK Adult Publishing, (2005), pg. 346.
- Ian Ridpath and Wil Tirion (2007). Stars and Planets Guide, Collins, London. ISBN 978-0007251209. Princeton University Press, Princeton. ISBN 978-0691135564.
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Lynx (constellation) |
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