Telescopium constellation
Telescopium (the Telescope) is a constellation in the southern sky, best seen in the evening in August. Its brightest star is α Telescopii (magnitude 3.51). Telescopium covers 252 square degrees and is the 57th-largest of the 88 constellations.
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Detailed star map of Telescopium
Facts
| Latin name | Telescopium (genitive: Telescopii) |
|---|---|
| Abbreviation | Tel |
| Meaning | the Telescope |
| Area | 252 square degrees (57th of 88) |
| Location | right ascension 19.3 h, declination −51° |
| Visible from | latitudes 33° N to 90° S (whole constellation) |
| Best month | August (at about 9 pm) |
| Brightest star | α Telescopii |
| Stars brighter than magnitude 6 | 27 |
| Named stars (IAU) | none |
| Messier objects | none |
| Neighbors | Ara, Corona Australis, Indus, Pavo, Sagittarius |
How to find Telescopium
From 40° N (the USA, southern Europe, Japan) Telescopium never rises completely above the horizon. From 35° S (Australia, South Africa, Argentina) it is highest in the south, about 74° above the horizon. The months before and after (July and September) are also good: then it is up a couple of hours earlier or later.
Telescopium borders Ara, Corona Australis, Indus, Pavo and Sagittarius.
Stars of Telescopium
Telescopium has 27 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 Telescopii | 3.51 | B3IV | — |
| — | ζ Telescopii | 4.13 | G8-K0III | — |
Printable Telescopium map and outline
A black and white version for printing and a plain outline of the Telescopium figure, useful for school projects, worksheets and learning to recognize the shape.
History
Telescopium is introduced by the French astronomer Nicolas-Louis de Lacaille, who charted the southern sky from the Cape of Good Hope in 1751–52. Its official boundary was drawn by Eugène Delporte for the International Astronomical Union in 1930.
Questions about Telescopium
What is the brightest star in Telescopium?
α Telescopii, at magnitude 3.51.
When can you see Telescopium?
Telescopium is best seen in the evening in August. The whole constellation is visible from latitudes between 33° N and 90° S.
How many stars are in Telescopium?
27 stars in Telescopium 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 Telescopium mean?
Telescopium means “the Telescope” in Latin. Its abbreviation is Tel and the genitive, used in star names such as α Telescopii, is Telescopii.
