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public Observing fromLocation: Greenwich, United Kingdom edit_location_alt
SunriseRise: 6:04  
clear_day Transit: 12:06  
SunsetSet: 18:09
wb_twilight Nautical TwilightWhat's Visible Now?
All Constellations » 

Microscopium (The Microscope) Constellation

Altitude: -11.1°   Azimuth: 135.5°   Direction: South-East

Microscopium (pronounced ˌmaɪkroʊˈskoʊpiəm) is the Latin name of a constellation situated south of the celestial equator. As such, it is more easily visible from the southern hemisphere.

In English language this constellation is also known as "The Microscope" while in astronomical texts and literature this constellation is often abbreviated as "Mic" (according to the standard of the International Astronomical Union - IAU) or as "Micr" (according to a naming convention used by NASA).

The Latin genitive of the constellation name is "Microscopii" (pronounced ˌmaɪkroʊˈskoʊpiaɪ) 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 Microscopii (the brightest star of Microscopium based on the Bayer catalog); or 23 Microscopii (the 23th star in the constellation of Microscopium based on the Flamsteed catalog).

Microscopium is below the horizon from Greenwich, United Kingdom edit_location_alt.
Available Resources for Microscopium

Sky Chart of Microscopium Constellation

Here we provide a simplified sky chart of the Microscopium constellation. Alternatively it is possible to locate Microscopium in the night sky using our Online Interactive Planetarium.

Chart of  constellation
This constellation image is derivatve work based on original work by IAU and Sky & Telescope magazine (Roger Sinnott & Rick Fienberg) CC-BY-3.0.

Visibility of Microscopium Constellation

Location: Greenwich, United Kingdom edit_location_alt
Latitude: 51° 28’ 47” N
Longitude: 0° 00’ 00” E
Timezone: Europe/London

Today's Microscopium rise, transit and set times from Greenwich, United Kingdom edit_location_alt are the following (all times relative to the local timezone Europe/London):

Azimuth: 125.9°
Max altitude: 2.6°
Azimuth: 234.1°
Microscopium is below the horizon from Greenwich, United Kingdom

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 Microscopium Constellation

The table below lists the top 20 brightest stars in the Microscopium constellation. See also the complete list of 39 stars brighter than magnitude 6.5 (approximate) in the constellation of Microscopium. Click on each star to see more details about it.

HR Number(*) Star designation Proper name Visual magnitude Color Notes
HR8039 γ Microscopii 4.67 Double;
HR8135 ε Microscopii 4.71
HR8151 θ1 Microscopii 4.82 Variable;
HR7965 α Microscopii 4.9 Variable; Double;
HR7943 ι Microscopii 5.11 Double;
HR7846 ν Microscopii 5.11
HR8076 5.18
HR8104 5.26
HR8048 ζ Microscopii 5.3
HR7987 5.35
HR8110 5.42
HR7893 5.47
HR7933 5.5
HR8202 5.51 Double;
HR7971 5.52
HR8069 η Microscopii 5.53 Multiple;
HR8200 5.63
HR8070 δ Microscopii 5.68
HR7909 5.76
HR8180 θ2 Microscopii 5.77 Multiple;
...go to the complete list of 39 bright stars in the constellation of Microscopium

(*) HR stands for Harvard Revised Bright Star Catalogue, which is also known as the Yale Catalogue of Bright Stars.

Deep Sky Objects in Microscopium Constellation

The table below lists the 20 brightest deep sky objects in the Microscopium constellation. See also the complete list of 23 deep sky objects in the constellation of Microscopium. The list includes objects from the Messier, New General Catalogue (NGC) and Index Catalogue (IC).

Name Type Magnitude
NGC 6925 Galaxy 11.3 (V)
NGC 6958 Galaxy 11.42 (V)
IC 5105 Galaxy 11.54 (V)
NGC 6923 Galaxy 12.09 (V)
IC 5003 Galaxy 12.6 (V)
IC 5011 Galaxy 12.67 (B)
IC 5020 Galaxy 12.72 (V)
IC 5007 Galaxy 13.11 (B)
NGC 7060 Galaxy 13.58 (B)
IC 5049B Galaxy 13.6 (V)
NGC 7057 Galaxy 13.65 (B)
IC 5086 Galaxy 13.66 (B)
NGC 7012 Galaxy 13.67 (B)
NGC 6919 Galaxy 13.75 (B)
NGC 6983 Galaxy 14.24 (B)
IC 5065 Galaxy 14.44 (B)
NGC 6947 Galaxy 14.84 (B)
NGC 6999 Galaxy 15.02 (B)
IC 5049A Galaxy 15.15 (B)
IC 5019 Galaxy 15.47 (B)
...go to the complete list of 23 deep sky objects in the constellation of Microscopium