Coma Berenices constellation
Coma Berenices (Berenice's Hair) is a constellation in the northern sky, best seen in the evening in May. Its brightest star is β Comae Berenices (magnitude 4.26). Coma Berenices covers 387 square degrees and is the 42nd-largest of the 88 constellations.
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Detailed star map of Coma Berenices
Facts
| Latin name | Coma Berenices (genitive: Comae Berenices) |
|---|---|
| Abbreviation | Com |
| Meaning | Berenice's Hair |
| Area | 387 square degrees (42nd of 88) |
| Location | right ascension 12.8 h, declination +23° |
| Visible from | latitudes 90° N to 57° S (whole constellation) |
| Best month | May (at about 9 pm) |
| Brightest star | β Comae Berenices |
| Stars brighter than magnitude 6 | 39 |
| Named stars (IAU) | 1 |
| Messier objects | M53, M64, M85, M88, M91, M98, M99, M100 |
| Neighbors | Boötes, Canes Venatici, Leo, Ursa Major, Virgo |
How to find Coma Berenices
From 40° N (the USA, southern Europe, Japan) look south in May evenings: at about 9 pm Coma Berenices stands highest, around 73° above the southern horizon. From 35° S (Australia, South Africa, Argentina) it is highest in the north, about 32° above the horizon. The months before and after (April and June) are also good: then it is up a couple of hours earlier or later.
Coma Berenices borders Boötes, Canes Venatici, Leo, Ursa Major and Virgo.
Stars of Coma Berenices
Coma Berenices has 39 stars brighter than magnitude 6, the limit of the naked eye under a dark sky. These are the brightest:
| Star | Designation | Magnitude | Type | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | β Comae Berenices | 4.26 | F9.5V | — |
| — | γ Comae Berenices | 4.36 | K1IIIFe0.5 | — |
Deep-sky objects in Coma Berenices
Coma Berenices contains 8 objects from Charles Messier's catalog:
- Messier 53 (M53): globular cluster, 7.8 mag
- Black Eye Galaxy (M64): spiral galaxy, 8.5 mag
- Messier 85 (M85): elliptical galaxy, 9.1 mag
- Messier 88 (M88): spiral galaxy, 9.6 mag
- Messier 91 (M91): spiral galaxy, 10.2 mag
- Messier 98 (M98): spiral galaxy, 10.1 mag
- Messier 99 (M99): spiral galaxy, 9.9 mag
- Messier 100 (M100): spiral galaxy, 9.4 mag
Printable Coma Berenices map and outline
A black and white version for printing and a plain outline of the Coma Berenices figure, useful for school projects, worksheets and learning to recognize the shape.
History
Coma Berenices is recognized since antiquity as part of Leo and made a separate constellation by Tycho Brahe in 1602. Its official boundary was drawn by Eugène Delporte for the International Astronomical Union in 1930.
Questions about Coma Berenices
What is the brightest star in Coma Berenices?
β Comae Berenices, at magnitude 4.26.
When can you see Coma Berenices?
Coma Berenices is best seen in the evening in May. The whole constellation is visible from latitudes between 90° N and 57° S.
How many stars are in Coma Berenices?
39 stars in Coma Berenices are brighter than magnitude 6 and can be seen with the naked eye under a dark sky; 1 of them have official IAU names.
What does Coma Berenices mean?
Coma Berenices means “Berenice's Hair” in Latin. Its abbreviation is Com and the genitive, used in star names such as β Comae Berenices, is Comae Berenices.
