Microscopium

• Capricorn
• Sagittarius
• (Telescope)
• Indian
• Crane
• Southern fish

The microscope (Latin Microscopium ) is a constellation of the southern sky.

Description

The microscope is a completely inconspicuous constellation south of Capricorn. It contains 15 stars of the 4th and 5th magnitude, which are visible to the naked eye.

From Germany, only the northern part is to see. South of the line Karlsruhe - Regensburg also increases the star θ1 above the southern horizon.

History

The constellation was introduced in the mid -18th century by the French astronomer Nicolas Louis de Lacaille, who often related technical equipment for the labels. It seems as if Lacaille the constellation "filler" between the shooter ( Sagittarius ) and the crane (Grus ) einfügte.

Celestial objects

Stars

γ Microscopii is 224 light years distant, yellow bright star of spectral type G8 III with 10 times the diameter of our sun.

Variable Stars

AU Microscopii is a red dwarf star only 33 light years away. Because of its low brightness of only 8.8 m is required for its observation at least one prism binoculars. The star shows sometimes outbursts. Investigations revealed that he is surrounded by a disk of dust.