Lacerta constellation
Lacerta (the Lizard) is a constellation in the northern sky, best seen in the evening in October. Its brightest star is α Lacertae (magnitude 3.77). Lacerta covers 201 square degrees and is the 68th-largest of the 88 constellations.
Free to use with credit: Atlas of the Sky (constellationmap.org), CC BY 4.0 · More
Embed this image on your website
Detailed star map of Lacerta
Facts
| Latin name | Lacerta (genitive: Lacertae) |
|---|---|
| Abbreviation | Lac |
| Meaning | the Lizard |
| Area | 201 square degrees (68th of 88) |
| Location | right ascension 22.5 h, declination +46° |
| Visible from | latitudes 90° N to 33° S (whole constellation) |
| Best month | October (at about 9 pm) |
| Brightest star | α Lacertae |
| Stars brighter than magnitude 6 | 36 |
| Named stars (IAU) | none |
| Messier objects | none |
| Neighbors | Andromeda, Cassiopeia, Cepheus, Cygnus, Pegasus |
How to find Lacerta
From 40° N (the USA, southern Europe, Japan) look north in October evenings: at about 9 pm Lacerta stands highest, around 84° above the northern horizon. From 35° S (Australia, South Africa, Argentina) it is highest in the north, about 9° above the horizon. The months before and after (September and November) are also good: then it is up a couple of hours earlier or later.
Lacerta borders Andromeda, Cassiopeia, Cepheus, Cygnus and Pegasus.
Stars of Lacerta
Lacerta has 36 stars brighter than magnitude 6, the limit of the naked eye under a dark sky. These are the brightest:
| Star | Designation | Magnitude | Type | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | α Lacertae | 3.77 | A1V | — |
| — | 1 Lacertae | 4.13 | K3-II-III | — |
| — | 5 Lacertae | 4.36 | M0II+B8V | — |
| — | β Lacertae | 4.43 | G8.5IIIbCa1 | — |
| — | 11 Lacertae | 4.46 | K2+III-IIIb | — |
| — | HR 8485 | 4.49 | K3III | — |
Printable Lacerta map and outline
A black and white version for printing and a plain outline of the Lacerta figure, useful for school projects, worksheets and learning to recognize the shape.
History
Lacerta is introduced by the Polish astronomer Johannes Hevelius in 1690. Its official boundary was drawn by Eugène Delporte for the International Astronomical Union in 1930.
Questions about Lacerta
What is the brightest star in Lacerta?
α Lacertae, at magnitude 3.77.
When can you see Lacerta?
Lacerta is best seen in the evening in October. The whole constellation is visible from latitudes between 90° N and 33° S.
How many stars are in Lacerta?
36 stars in Lacerta are brighter than magnitude 6 and can be seen with the naked eye under a dark sky; none of them has an official IAU name.
What does Lacerta mean?
Lacerta means “the Lizard” in Latin. Its abbreviation is Lac and the genitive, used in star names such as α Lacertae, is Lacertae.
