Lacerta (The Lizard) Constellation
Lacerta (pronounced ləˈsɜːrtə) is the Latin name of a constellation situated north of the celestial equator. As such, it is more easily visible from the northern hemisphere.
In English language this constellation is also known as "The Lizard" while in astronomical texts and literature this constellation is often abbreviated as "Lac" (according to the standard of the International Astronomical Union - IAU) or as "Lacr" (according to a naming convention used by NASA).
The Latin genitive of the constellation name is "Lacertae" (pronounced ləˈsɜːrtiː) and it is used to identify some of the brightest stars in this constellation based on the Bayer or Flamsteed star naming convention. For instance: α Lacertae (the brightest star of Lacerta based on the Bayer catalog); or 23 Lacertae (the 23th star in the constellation of Lacerta based on the Flamsteed catalog).
Sky Chart of Lacerta Constellation
Here we provide a simplified sky chart of the Lacerta constellation. Alternatively it is possible to locate Lacerta in the night sky using our Online Interactive Planetarium.
Visibility of Lacerta Constellation
Location: Greenwich, UK
Latitude: 51° 28’ 47” N
Longitude: 0° 00’ 00” E
Timezone: Europe/London
Lacerta is circumpolar and transits at 21:38 UTC (altitude: 84.2°)
The rise and set times provided here are just directional indications and they refer to a point approximately placed at the center of the constellation. In case of very large constellations these times can have little relevance.
Bright Stars in Lacerta Constellation
The table below lists the top 20 brightest stars in the Lacerta constellation. See also the complete list of 66 stars brighter than magnitude 6.5 (approximate) in the constellation of Lacerta. Click on each star to see more details about it.
| HR Number(*) | Star designation | Proper name | Visual magnitude | Color | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
HR8585 | α Lacertae | 3.77 | ⬤ | Double; | |
|
HR8498 | 1 Lacertae | 4.13 | ⬤ | ||
|
HR8572 | 5 Lacertae | 4.36 | ⬤ | Variable; | |
|
HR8538 | β Lacertae | 4.43 | ⬤ | ||
|
HR8632 | 11 Lacertae | 4.46 | ⬤ | ||
|
HR8485 | 4.49 | ⬤ | Variable; Multiple; | ||
|
HR8579 | 6 Lacertae | 4.51 | ⬤ | ||
|
HR8523 | 2 Lacertae | 4.57 | ⬤ | Variable; Double; | |
|
HR8541 | 4 Lacertae | 4.57 | ⬤ | ||
|
HR8613 | 9 Lacertae | 4.63 | ⬤ | ||
|
HR8622 | 10 Lacertae | 4.88 | ⬤ | Double; | |
|
HR8699 | 15 Lacertae | 4.94 | ⬤ | Multiple; | |
|
HR8726 | 4.95 | ⬤ | Variable; | ||
|
HR8656 | 13 Lacertae | 5.08 | ⬤ | Double; | |
|
HR8424 | 5.14 | ⬤ | Variable; | ||
|
HR8621 | 5.21 | ⬤ | Variable; Double; | ||
|
HR8640 | 12 Lacertae | 5.25 | ⬤ | Variable; Double; | |
|
HR8463 | 5.4 | ⬤ | Multiple; | ||
|
HR8731 | 5.43 | ⬤ | Variable; | ||
|
HR8688 | 5.43 | ⬤ | |||
| ...go to the complete list of 66 bright stars in the constellation of Lacerta | ||||||
(*) HR stands for Harvard Revised Bright Star Catalogue, which is also known as the Yale Catalogue of Bright Stars.
Deep Sky Objects in Lacerta Constellation
The table below lists the 20 brightest deep sky objects in the Lacerta constellation. See also the complete list of 38 deep sky objects in the constellation of Lacerta. The list includes objects from the Messier, New General Catalogue (NGC) and Index Catalogue (IC).
