Centaurus, the Centaur (Cen)

(cen-TAR-us)

The Southern constellation of Centaurus, the Centaur, is best viewed in Spring during the month of May. It's brightest star is Alpha Centauri at magnitude -0.27. The boundary of the Centaurus constellation contains 28 stars that host known exoplanets.

Centaurus is a circumpolar constellation, so is visible year-round in the Southern hemisphere. Conversely, it is not visible in the opposite hemisphere unless you are close to the equator.

Red supergiant V766 Centauri is the 9th largest known star in the universe at 1,300 times the size of the Sun.

1. Pronunciation:
2. cen-TAR-us

1. Meaning:
2. Centaur

1. Genitive:
2. Centauri

1. Abbreviation:
2. Cen

1. Asterism:
2. Southern Pointers

1. Constellation Family:
2. Hercules

1. Hemisphere:
2. Southern

1. Quadrant:
2. SQ3

1. Best viewing month*:
2. May

1. Circumpolar** (N=northern, S=southern):
2. S circumpolar

1. Right Ascension (avg):
2. 12h 57m

1. Declination (avg):
2. -44° 0'

1. Brightest star:
2. Alpha Centauri (-0.27)

1. Stars with planets:
2. 28

1. X-ray stars:
2. 2 (binary) stars

1. Messier catalog objects:
2. |

Brightest Stars in Centaurus

The 10 brightest stars in the constellation Centaurus by magnitude.

1. Star
2. Magnitude
3. Spectral class

1. Alpha Centauri A (α Cen A)
2. -0.01
3. G2V

1. Beta Centauri (β Cen)
2. 0.61
3. B1III

1. Alpha Centauri B (α Cen B)
2. 1.35
3. K1V

1. Theta Centauri (θ Cen)
2. 2.06
3. K0IIIb

1. Gamma Centauri (γ Cen)
2. 2.2
3. A1IV

1. Epsilon Centauri (ε Cen)
2. 2.29
3. B1III

1. Eta Centauri (η Cen)
2. 2.33
3. B1Vn + A

1. Zeta Centauri (ζ Cen)
2. 2.55
3. B2.5IV

1. Delta Centauri (δ Cen)
2. 2.58
3. B2IVne

1. Iota Centauri (ι Cen)
2. 2.75
3. A2V

Star Clusters in Centaurus

The most notable and easy-to-find star clusters in the constellation Centaurus . Also see all star clusters.

1. Star cluster
2. Catalog #
3. Cluster type

1. Lambda Centauri
2. C100
3. open

1. NGC 5286
3. globular

1. NGC 5460
3. open

1. NGC 5662
3. open

1. Omega Centauri
2. C80
3. globular

1. Omega Centauri Cluster
3. globular

1. Pearl Cluster
2. C97
3. open

1. Ruprecht 106
3. globular

Nebulae in Centaurus

Notable and easy-to-find nebulae in the constellation Centaurus . Also see all nebulae.

1. Nebula name
2. Catalog #
3. Nebula type

1. Blue Planetary
3. planetary

1. Boomerang Nebula
3. protoplanetary

1. Fleming 1
3. planetary

1. Running Chicken Nebula
3. diffuse

1. Southern Crab Nebula
3. planetary

Galaxies in Centaurus

The most notable, famous, and easy-to-find galaxies in the constellation Centaurus . Also see all galaxies.

1. Galaxy name
2. Alt name
3. Galaxy type

1. Backward Galaxy
3. unbarred spiral

1. Centaurus A
2. C77
3. elliptical

1. Fourcade-Figueroa object
3. galaxy shred

1. Hardcastle Nebula
3. barred spiral

1. Seashell Galaxy
3. galaxy group

Neutron Stars in Centaurus

These are the most well-known neutron stars in the constellation Centaurus. Although neutron stars cannot be seen in any amateur telescope, they are at the center of many supernova remnant nebulae, which can be seen. Also see all neutron stars.

1. Neutron star
3. Type

1. Centarus-X3
3. X-ray pulsar

Black Holes in Centaurus

These are the most well-known smaller (non-supermassive) black holes in the constellation Centaurus. Although black holes cannot be seen directly, the smaller ones are at the center of some star clusters and supernova remnant nebulae, which can be seen. Supermassive black holes are at the center of most galaxies, such as Sagittarius A* at the center of our Milky Way galaxy. Also see all black holes.

1. Black hole
3. Type

1. CXOU J132527
3. stellar

* Constellation shown for northen hemisphere skies. For the southern hemisphere, constellations appear rotated 180 degrees (upside-down and left-right reversed) from what is shown. Remember that seasons are reversed too - summer in northern latitudes is winter in southern latitudes.

** Circumpolar constellations are visible year-round in the hemisphere listed (and not at all in the opposite hemisphere).