Cygnus, the Swan (Cyg)
(SIG-nus)
The Northern constellation of Cygnus, the Swan, is best viewed in Fall during the month of September. It's brightest star is Deneb at magnitude 1.25. The boundary of the Cygnus constellation contains 85 stars that host known exoplanets.
Red supergiant KY Cygni is the 6th largest known star in the universe at 1,400 times the size of the Sun.
- Pronunciation:
- SIG-nus
- Meaning:
- Swan
- Genitive:
- Cygni
- Abbreviation:
- Cyg
- Asterism:
- Northern Cross
- Constellation Family:
- Hercules
- Hemisphere:
- Northern
- Quadrant:
- NQ4
- Best viewing month*:
- September
- Right Ascension (avg):
- 20h 36m
- Declination (avg):
- 49° 35'
- Brightest star:
- Deneb (1.25)
- Stars with planets:
- 85
- X-ray stars:
- 2 (binary) stars
Brightest Stars in Cygnus
The 10 brightest stars in the constellation Cygnus by magnitude.
- Star
- Magnitude
- Spectral class
- Alpha Cygni (α Cyg)
- 1.25
- A2Ia
- Gamma Cygni (γ Cyg)
- 2.23
- F8Ib
- Epsilon Cygni (ε Cyg)
- 2.48
- K0III
- Delta Cygni (δ Cyg)
- 2.86
- B9.5III
- Beta Cygni (β1 Cyg)
- 3.05
- K3II+
- Zeta Cygni (ζ Cyg)
- 3.21
- G8II SB
- Xi Cygni (ξ Cyg)
- 3.72
- K5Ibv SB
- Tau Cygni (τ Cyg)
- 3.74
- F1IV
- Iota Cygni (ι Cyg)
- 3.76
- A5Vn
- Kappa Cygni (κ Cyg)
- 3.8
- K0III
Double Stars in Cygnus
These are the brightest and easiest-to-find double, triple, and quadruple star systems in the constellation Cygnus. Also see all star clusters.
- Star system
- Magnitudes
- Type
- Beta Cygni
- 3.2, 4.7
- double
- 31 Cygni
- 3.9, 7.0, 4.8
- triple
- 61 Cygni
- 5.2, 6.1
- double
Star Clusters in Cygnus
The most notable and easy-to-find star clusters in the constellation Cygnus . Also see all star clusters.
- Star cluster
- Catalog #
- Cluster type
- Cooling Tower
- M29
- open
- IC 5146
- open
- Messier 39
- M39
- open
- NGC 6834
- open
Nebulae in Cygnus
Notable and easy-to-find nebulae in the constellation Cygnus . Also see all nebulae.
- Nebula name
- Catalog #
- Nebula type
- Bat Nebula
- supernova remnant
- Blinking Planetary
- C15
- planetary
- Cocoon Nebula
- C19
- reflection
- Crescent Nebula
- C27
- emission
- Cygnus Loop
- supernova remnant
- Eastern Veil Nebula
- C33
- supernova remnant
- Egg Nebula
- protoplanetary
- Fetus Nebula
- planetary
- Footprint Nebula
- protoplanetary
- North America Nebula
- C20
- emission
- Pelican Nebula
- emission
- Sadr Region
- emission
- Soap Bubble Nebula
- planetary
- Soccer Ball Nebula
- planetary
- Veil Nebula
- supernova remnant
- Western Veil Nebula
- C34
- supernova remnant
Galaxies in Cygnus
The most notable, famous, and easy-to-find galaxies in the constellation Cygnus. Also see all galaxies.
Neutron Stars in Cygnus
These are the most well-known neutron stars in the constellation Cygnus. 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.
Black Holes in Cygnus
These are the most well-known smaller (non-supermassive) black holes in the constellation Cygnus. 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.
- Black hole
- Type
- Cygnus X-1
- stellar
- Cygnus X-3
- stellar
- V404 Cyg
- 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).