Constellations · Constellation · Lyncis · Lyn
Constellation
Lynx
The lynx — named because, according to Hevelius, you need the eyes of a lynx to see it.
- Genitive
- Lyncis
- Area
- 545 square degrees · 28th of 88
- Brightest star
- · magnitude 3.14
- Naked-eye stars
- 101 brighter than magnitude 6.5
- Highest at midnight
- mid January
History
Hevelius added it in 1687 to fill the gap between the Great Bear and Auriga. Its brightest star, Alsciaukat, is only third magnitude.
Look for
NGC 2419, the “Intergalactic Wanderer”, is a globular cluster so far out — 300,000 light-years — that it was once thought to be free of the galaxy.