Updated 27th June 2001
By DEREK HASELDEN
THE SOLAR SYSTEM.
PLANETARY MOONS AND RING SYSTEMS.
OTHER SOLAR SYSTEM OBJECTS.
STARS.
DEEP SKY OBJECTS.
MISCELLANEOUS.
TABLE 1. SOLAR SYSTEM - PLANETARY ORBITAL DATA
Average dist. Min. distance Max. distance Eccentricity Inclination
PLANET from Sun (AU) from Sun (AU) from Sun (AU) of orbit to ecliptic(°)
Mercury 0.387 0.307 0.467 0.206 7.00
Venus 0.723 0.718 0.728 0.007 3.39
Earth 1.000 0.983 1.017 0.017 0.00
Mars 1.524 1.381 1.666 0.093 1.85
Jupiter 5.203 4.952 5.455 0.048 1.31
Saturn 9.537 9.021 10.054 0.054 2.48
Uranus 19.191 18.286 20.096 0.047 0.77
Neptune 30.069 29.811 30.327 0.009 1.77
Pluto 39.482 29.658 49.305 0.249 17.14
PLANET Average dist. Min. distance Max. distance Eccentricity Inclination
from Sun (AU) from Sun (AU) from Sun (AU) of orbit to ecliptic(°)
Notes:
(AU) = astronomical unit, 1 AU = 149 600 000 km (92 900 000 miles).
TABLE 2. SOLAR SYSTEM - PLANETARY PERIODS AND MOTIONS
Sidereal period Mean orbital Sidereal period Inclination of equator
PLANET (days or years) velocity(km/sec.) of axial rotation to ecliptic(°)
Mercury 87.969 d 47.87 58.646 d 0.01
Venus 224.701 d 35.02 243.019 d (R) 177.36
Earth 365.256 d 29.79 23.934 h 23.44
Mars 686.980 d 24.13 24.624 h 25.19
Jupiter 11.863 y 13.07 9.842 h 3.13
Saturn 29.447 y 9.67 10.233 h 26.73
Uranus 84.017 y 6.84 17.240 h (R) 97.86
Neptune 164.793 y 5.48 16.110 h 28.31
Pluto 247.920 y 4.75 6.387 d (R) 122.52
PLANET Sidereal period Mean orbital Sidereal period Inclination of equator
(days or years) velocity(km/sec.) of axial rotation to ecliptic(°)
(R) = Retrograde rotation.
The rotation period for Jupiter is at its equator.
The rotation periods for Uranus and Neptine are their magnetic fields.
TABLE 3. SOLAR SYSTEM - PLANETARY PHYSICAL DATA
Equatorial Polar Mass Volume Oblateness Surface gravity Density
PLANET dia.(km) dia.(km) (Earth=1) (Earth=1) (Earth=1) (Water=1)
Mercury 4 878 4 878 0.06 0.06 0 0.378 5.43
Venus 12 104 12 104 0.82 0.86 0 0.907 5.24
Earth 12 756 12 714 1.00 1.00 0.0034 1.000 5.52
Mars 6 794 6 750 0.11 0.15 0.0065 0.377 3.94
Jupiter 142 984 133 708 317.83 1321.0 0.065 2.364 1.33
Saturn 120 536 108 728 95.16 764.0 0.098 0.916 0.70
Uranus 51 118 49 946 14.50 63.0 0.023 0.889 1.30
Neptune 49 528 48 682 17.20 58.0 0.017 1.125 1.76
Pluto 2 302 2 250 0.0025 0.0057 0 0.067 1.10
PLANET Equatorial Polar Mass Volume Oblateness Surface gravity Density
dia.(km) dia.(km) (Earth=1) (Earth=1) (Earth=1) (Water=1)
TABLE 4. SOLAR SYSTEM - PLANETARY OBSERVATIONAL DATA
Angular equatorial diameter of planet (seconds of arc)
At 1 AU At minimum At maximum At greatest At opposition Ave. Visual
distance distance distance elongation distance (ave.) magnitude
PLANET (") (") (") (") (")
Mercury 6.7 13.0 4.5 7.8 - 0.0
Venus 16.7 65.4 9.6 25.2 - -4.4
Mars 9.4 25.7 3.5 - 17.9 -2.0
Jupiter 196.9 50.0 30.4 - 46.8 -2.7
Saturn 165.5 20.7 14.9 - 19.4 +0.7 #
Uranus 70.0 4.1 3.3 - 3.9 +5.5
Neptune 67.0 2.3 2.1 - 2.3 +7.8
Pluto 3.1 - - - 0.1 +14.0
PLANET Angular equatorial diameter of planet (Seconds of arc)
At 1 AU At minimum At maximum At greatest At opposition Ave. Visual
distance distance distance elongation distance (Ave.) magnitude
(") (") (") (") (")
Notes:
(AU) = astronomical unit, 1 AU = 149 600 000 km (92 900 000 miles).
# = with rings closed, -0.2 with rings fully open.
TABLE 5. EARTH - SATELLITE DATA
No Satellite Average Orbital Inclination Eccentricity Diameter
distance(km) period (d) (°) (km)
I The Moon 384 400 27.322 18.3 - 28.6 0.055 3 476
TABLE 6. MARS - SATELLITE DATA
No Satellite Average Orbital Inclination Eccentricity Diameter
distance(km) period (d) (°) (km)
I Phobos 9 380 0.319 1.0 0.015 28 x 22 x 18
II Deimos 23 460 1.262 0.9 to 2.7 0.001 16 x 12 x 10
TABLE 7. JUPITER SATELLITE DATA
Average Orbital Inclination Eccentricity Diameter
No Satellite distance(km) period(d) (°) (km)
XVI Metis 127 960 0.295 0.0 0 40
XV Adrastea 128 980 0.298 0.0 0 24 x 20 x 16
V Amalthea 181 300 0.498 0.4 0.003 270 x 170 x 150
XIV Thebe 221 900 0.675 0.8 0.015 110 x 90
I Io 421 600 1.769 0.04 0.004 3 630
II Europa 670 900 3.551 0.47 0.009 3 138
III Ganymede 1 070 000 7.155 0.21 0.002 5 262
IV Callisto 1 880 000 16.689 0.51 0.007 4 800
S/1975 J1 7 507 000 131.49 43.1 0.240 8
XIII Leda 11 094 000 238.72 26.1 0.148 10
VI Himalia 11 480 000 250.56 27.6 0.158 180
X Lysithia 11 720 000 259.22 29.0 0.107 20
VII Elara 11 737 000 259.65 24.8 0.207 80
S/2000 J11 12 557 000 288.54 28.2 0.250 4
S/2000 J10 20 174 000 588.05(R) 165.9 0.140 4
S/2000 J3 20 210 000 584.40(R) 149.7 0.220 5
S/2000 J7 21 010 000 620.92(R) 148.8 0.230 7
XII Ananke 21 200 000 631.00(R) 147.0 0.170 20
S/2000 J5 21 336 000 631.88(R) 149.0 0.240 4
S/2000 J9 22 304 000 683.02(R) 164.8 0.260 5
XI Carme 22 600 000 692.00(R) 164.0 0.210 30
S/2000 J4 22 972 000 712.24(R) 165.0 0.280 3
S/2000 J6 23 074 000 719.54(R) 164.8 0.260 4
VIII Pasiphae 23 500 000 735.00(R) 145.0 0.380 40
S/2000 J8 23 618 000 741.46(R) 153.1 0.410 5
IX Sinope 23 700 000 758.00(R) 153.0 0.280 30
S/2000 J2 23 746 000 752.41(R) 165.2 0.240 5
S/1999 J1 23 960 000 719.00(R) 146.87 0.280 ?
No Satellite Average Orbital Inclination Eccentricity Diameter
distance(km) period(d) (°) (km)
Notes:
(R) = Retrograde orbit.
TABLE 8. SATURN - SATELLITE DATA
Average Orbital Inclination Eccentricity Diameter
No Satellite distance(km) period(d) (°) (km)
XVIII Pan 133 600 0.575 - 0 20
XV Atlas 137 640 0.602 0.3 0.002 37 x 34 x 27
XVI Prometheus 139 350 0.613 0.0 0.004 148 x 100 x 68
XVII Pandora 141 700 0.629 0.1 0.004 110 x 88 x 62
XI Epimetheus 151 420 0.694 0.34 0.090 138 x 110 x 110
X Janus 151 470 0.695 0.10 0.007 194 x 190 x 154
I Mimas 185 520 0.942 1.53 0.020 421 x 395 x 385
II Enceladus 238 020 1.370 0.02 0.004 512 x 495 x 488
III Tethys 294 660 1.888 1.09 0 1 046
XIII Telesto 294 660 1.888 0.0 0 30 x 25 x 15
XIV Calypso 294 660 1.888 0.0 0 30 x 16 x 16
IV Dione 377 400 2.737 0.02 0.002 1 120
XII Helene 377 400 2.737 0.20 0.005 35 x 32 x 30
V Rhea 527 040 4.518 0.35 0.001 1 528
VI Titan 1 221 850 15.945 0.33 0.029 5 150
VII Hyperion 1 481 000 21.278 0.43 0.104 360 x 280 x 225
VIII Iapetus 3 561 300 79.331 15.40 0.028 1 436
S/2000 S5 11 339 000 449.26 46.2 0.330 17
S/2000 S6 11 465 000 452.91 46.6 0.320 14
IX Phoebe 12 944 300 547.87(R) 174.80 0.163 230 x 220 x 210
S/2000 S2 15 172 000 686.67 45.2 0.360 25
S/2000 S8 15 676 000 730.50(R) 153.0 0.270 8
S/2000 S3 17 251 000 825.46 45.5 0.270 45
S/2000 S10 17 452 000 858.34 34.7 0.470 10
S/2000 S11 17 874 000 887.56 33.1 0.380 30
S/2000 S4 18 231 000 924.08 33.5 0.540 16
S/2000 S9 18 486 000 938.69(R) 167.4 0.220 7
S/2000 S12 19 747 000 1 037.31(R) 175.8 0.120 7
S/2000 S7 20 144 000 1 066.53(R) 175.9 0.450 7
S/2000 S1 23 076 000 1 311.24(R) 173.1 0.340 20
No Satellite Average Orbital Inclination Eccentricity Diameter
distance(km) period(d) (°) (km)
Notes:
(R) = Retrograde orbit.
TABLE 9. URANUS - SATELLITE DATA
No Satellite Average Orbital Inclination Eccentricity Diameter
distance(km) period(d) (°) (km)
VI Cordelia 49 770 0.330 0.14 0 26
VII Ophelia 53 790 0.372 0.09 0.010 30
VIII Bianca 59 170 0.433 0.16 0.001 42
IX Cressida 61 780 0.558 0.28 0 54
X Desdemona 62 660 0.474 0.16 0 54
XI Juliet 64 350 0.464 0.04 0 62
XII Portia 66 090 0.513 0.09 0 108
XIII Rosalind 69 940 0.493 0.06 0.001 84
XIV Belinda 75 260 0.622 0.03 0 66
S/1986 U10 76 420 0.638 ? ? c.80
XV Puck 86 010 0.762 0.31 0 154
V Miranda 129 390 1.414 4.22 0.027 481 x 468 x 466
I Ariel 191 020 2.520 0.31 0.003 1 162 x 1 156 x 1 155
II Umbriel 266 300 4.144 0.36 0.005 1 169
III Titania 435 910 8.706 0.14 0.002 1 578
IV Oberon 583 520 13.463 0.10 0.001 1 523
XVI Caliban 7 164 600 579.379 (R) 139.51 0.082 c.80
XX Stephano 9 608 400 900.0 (R) 124.0 0.200 ?
XVII Sycorax 12 174 700 1 283.734 (R) 153.27 0.466 c.160
XVIII Prospero 16 668 000 2 056.0 (R) 159.0 0.320 ?
XIX Setebos 18 288 000 2 363.0 (R) 136.0 0.480 ?
No Satellite Average Orbital Inclination Eccentricity Diameter
distance(km) period(d) (°) (km)
Notes:
(R) = Retrograde orbit.
TABLE 10. NEPTUNE - SATELLITE DATA
No Satellite Average Orbital Inclination Eccentricity Diameter
distance(km) period(d) (°) (km)
Naiad 48 000 0.300 c.4.5 ? 50
Thalassa 50 000 0.310 c.1 ? 90
Despina 52 500 0.330 c.1 ? 140
Galatea 62 000 0.400 c.1 ? 160
Larissa 73 600 0.555 c.1 ? 200
Proteus 117 600 1.122 c.1 ? 436 x 416 x 402
I Triton 354 800 5.877(R) 157.7 0 2 705
II Nereid 5 513 000 360.16 27.2 0.75 340
No Satellite Average Orbital Inclination Eccentricity Diameter
distance(km) period(d) (°) (km)
Notes:
(R) = Retrograde orbit.
TABLE 11. PLUTO - SATELLITE DATA
No Satellite Average Orbital Inclination Eccentricity Diameter
distance(km) period(d) (°) (km)
Charon 19 700 6.387 94.0 0 1 200
TABLE 12. PLANETARY RING SYSTEMS
PLANET Dist. from centre of planet Planetary radii. Geometric
Ring system Inner edge Outer edge Inner edge Outer edge albedo
km km
JUPITER
Halo 100 000 122 000 1.40 1.71 -
Main ring 122 000 129 000 1.71 1.80 c. 0.015
Gossamer ring 129 000 215 000 1.80 3.00 -
SATURN
D ring 66 900 74 700 1.11 1.24 -
C ring 74 700 92 000 1.24 1.53 0.12-0.30
B ring 92 000 117 500 1.53 1.95 0.4 -0.6
A ring 122 300 136 800 2.03 2.27 0.4 -0.6
F ring 140 400 2.33 0.6
G ring 170 000 2.82 -
E ring 180 000 480 000 3.00 8.00 -
URANUS
Rings 41 800 51 100 1.64 2.00 0.015
NEPTUNE
Galle c 41 900 1.69 0.015
Le Verrier c 53 200 2.15 0.015
Lassell c 53 200 c 57 200 2.15 2.31 0.015
Arago c 57 200 2.31 -
Adams c 62 900 2.54 0.015
PLANET Dist. from centre of planet Planetary radii. Geometric
Ring system Inner edge Outer edge Inner edge Outer edge albedo
km km
TABLE 13. THE MINOR PLANETS (table under construction)
Notes:
PD = Perihelion distance (AU).
AD = Aphelion distance (AU).
Per. = Orbital period (years).
E = Eccentricity.
I = Inclination of orbit (degrees).
T = Type.
Dia. = Diameter (km).
R = Rotation period (hours).
Mv = Magnitude, visual.
No. Name Discoverer Date PD AD Per. E I T Dia. R Mv
(AU) (AU) y (°) (km) hrs
1 Ceres Piazzi 1 Jan 1801 2.55 2.77 4.60 0.078 10.60 C 940 9.05 7.4
2 Pallas Olbers 28 Mar 1802 2.12 2.77 4.62 0.234 34.80 CU 580x470 7.81 8.0
3 Juno Harding 1 Sep 1804 1.98 2.67 4.36 0.258 13.00 S 288x230 7.21 8.7
4 Vesta Olbers 29 Mar 1807 2.15 2.37 3.63 0.090 7.14 V 576 5.34 6.5
5 Astraea Hencke 8 Dec 1845 2.08 2.57 4.13 0.190 5.36 S 120 16.81 9.8
6 Hebe Hencke 1 Jul 1847 1.94 2.43 3.77 0.202 14.79 S 204 7.28 8.3
7 Iris Hind 13 Aug 1847 1.84 2.39 5.51 0.229 5.51 S 208 7.14 7.8
8 Flora Hind 18 Oct 1847 1.86 2.20 3.27 0.156 5.89 S 162 12.35 8.7
9 Metis Graham 16 Apr 1848 2.10 2.39 3.69 0.121 5.59 S 158 5.08 9.1
10 Hygeia De Gasparis 12 Apr 1849 2.76 3.13 5.54 0.120 3.84 C 430 17.50 10.2
11 Parthenope De Gasparis 11 May 1850 2.06 2.45 3.84 0.100 4.63 S 156 7.83 9.9
12 Victoria Hind 13 Sep 1850 1.82 2.33 3.56 0.220 8.38 S 136 8.65 9.9
13 Egeria De Gasparis 2 Nov 1850 2.36 2.58 4.14 0.087 16.50 C 244 7.05 10.8
14 Irene Hind 19 May 1851 2.16 2.59 4.16 0.016 9.11 S 150 9.35 9.6
15 Eunomia De Gasparis 29 Jul 1851 2.15 2.64 4.31 0.186 11.76 S 260 6.08 8.5
16 Psyche De Gasparis 15 Mar 1852 2.53 2.92 5.00 0.133 3.09 M 248 4.20 9.9
17 Thetis Luther 17 Apr 1852 2.13 2.47 3.88 0.138 5.60 S 98 12.28 10.7
18 Melpomene Hind 14 Jun 1852 1.80 2.30 3.48 0.217 10.14 S 162 11.57 8.9
19 Fortuna Hind 22 Aug 1852 2.05 2.44 3.82 0.159 1.57 C 198 7.45 10.1
20 Massalia De Gasparis 19 Sep 1852 2.06 2.41 3.74 0.145 0.70 S 134 8.09 9.2
TABLE 14. NOTABLE PERIODIC COMETS
The table below has been broken up for the convenience of the reader, the table 'blocks' do not convey any particular association other than ease of reading. This table does not list every comet, just a selection of some of the better (and lesser) known comets.
COMET NAME Orbital Distance Ecc. Inc. Abs. Associated
period P A (°) mag. meteor shower
years
2P/Encke 3.31 0.341 4.10 0.846 11.9 11 Taurids
26P/Grigg-Skjellerup 5.10 0.995 2.96 0.664 6.6? 12
96P/Macholtz 1 5.20? 0.13? ? 0.960 60? ? Quadrantids
du Toit-Martley 5.21 1.197 3.01 0.602 2.29 ?
Macholtz 2 5.23 0.752 3.01 0.750 12.8 16
Tempel 2 5.29 1.195 4.81 0.545 12.4 10
Honda-Mrkos-Pajdusakova 5.30 0.542 5.54 0.882 4.2 11
Schwassmann-Wachmann 3 5.34 0.941 5.19 0.693 11.4 11
Neujmin 2 5.43 1.338 4.84 0.567 10.6 11
Tuttle-Giacobini-Kresak 5.46 1.065 3.10 0.656 9.2 ?
Tempel 1 5.49 1.491 4.73 0.521 10.6 9
Wirtanen 5.50 1.083 3.115 0.652 11.7 16
Clark 5.51 1.552 3.12 0.502 9.5 12
Tempel-Swift 5.68 1.153 5.22 0.638 5.4 13
Howell 5.94 1.615 4.94 0.508 4.9 ?
COMET NAME Orbital Distance Ecc. Inc. Abs. Associated
period P A (°) mag. meteor shower
years
Russell 1 6.10 1.612 5.06 0.517 22.7 15
West-Kohoutek-Ikemura 6.12 1.401 5.29 0.581 30.1 10
Wild 2 6.17 1.494 5.24 0.556 3.3 6
Forbes 6.27 1.479 5.32 0.565 4.7 10
Pons-Winnecke 6.36 1.254 5.61 0.635 22.3 14
du Toit-Neujmin-Delporte 6.37 1.708 5.16 0.503 2.9 14
Spitaler 6.37 1.818 5.06 0.471 12.8 16
22P/Kopff 6.44 1.576 5.35 0.545 4.7 13
Schwassmann-Wachmann 2 6.50 2.135 4.83 0.387 3.7 11
D'Arrest 6.51 1.346 3.49 0.614 19.5 6
Bus 6.52 2.183 3.49 0.374 2.6 ?
Wolf-Harrington 6.57 1.608 3.49 0.539 18.4 13
3D/Biela 6.60 0.860 ? 0.760 13.0 ? Andromedids (a)
21P/Giacobini-Zinner 6.61 1.034 3.53 0.706 31.8 10 Giacobinids (b)
Churyumov-Gerasimenko 6.61 1.306 5.74 0.629 7.1 10
Kohoutek 6.67 1.785 3.54 0.496 5.9 ?
Tsuchinshan 1 6.67 1.508 5.58 0.575 10.5 14
Reinmuth 2 6.74 1.946 5.19 0.455 7.0 10
Finlay 6.76 1.036 3.58 0.710 3.7 13
Perrine-Mrkos 6.77 1.293 3.58 0.639 17.8 18
Harrington 6.78 1.572 3.58 0.561 8.6 15
Gunn 6.82 2.459 4.74 0.316 10.4 10
Arend-Rigaux 6.82 1.438 3.60 0.600 17.9 9
Tsuchinshan 2 6.82 1.782 3.60 0.504 6.7 14
Borrely 6.88 1.365 3.62 0.623 30.3 13
Brooks 2 6.89 1.843 3.62 0.490 5.5 13
Wild 3 6.91 2.299 3.63 0.366 15.4 ?
Johnson 6.94 2.302 4.98 0.367 13.7 10
Giclas 6.96 1.847 3.64 0.493 7.3 13
Longmore 6.98 2.339 3.65 0.343 24.4 ?
Taylor 6.99 1.961 5.35 0.464 20.5 12
COMET NAME Orbital Distance Ecc. Inc. Abs. Associated
period P A (°) mag. meteor shower
years
Holmes 7.06 2.160 5.20 0.413 19.2 13
Daniel 7.06 1.649 3.68 0.551 20.1 11
Reinmuth 1 7.31 1.874 3.77 0.562 8.2 14
de Vico-Swift 7.32 2.145 3.77 0.562 6.1 ?
Faye 7.34 1.593 3.78 0.578 9.0 8
Russell 2 7.38 2.276 3.79 0.400 12.0 ?
Shajn-Schaldach 7.46 2.331 5.31 0.390 6.1 12
Ashbrook-Jackson 7.47 2.307 5.34 0.398 12.5 7
Skiff-Kosai 7.54 2.846 3.86 0.260 3.2 ?
Harrington-Abell 7.59 1.774 3.86 0.540 10.2 16
Russell II 7.62 2.175 3.87 0.438 17.7 ?
Oterma 7.88 3.388 4.53 0.144 4.5 9
Kojima 7.89 2.414 5.51 0.391 ? ?
Gehrels 2 7.98 2.362 5.62 0.409 0.9 ?
Arend 7.99 1.850 4.00 0.537 19.9 14
COMET NAME Orbital Distance Ecc. Inc. Abs. Associated
period P A (°) mag. meteor shower
years
Peters-Hartley 8.12 1.627 6.46 0.598 29.8 8
Gehrels 3 8.14 3.442 4.65 0.149 4.7 9
Jackson-Neujmin 8.24 1.381 4.08 0.661 13.5 17
Wolf 8.25 2.428 4.08 0.406 27.5 13
Schaumasse 8.26 1.213 6.96 0.703 11.8 11
36P/Whipple 8.53 3.093 4.17 0.259 9.9 ?
Smirnova-Chernykh 8.57 3.572 4.19 0.147 6.6 8
Comas Sola 8.94 1.870 6.74 0.566 13.0 8
Kwerns-Kwee 8.99 2.224 6.42 0.486 9.0 11
Denning-Fujikawa 9.01 0.779 7.88 0.820 8.7 11
Swift-Gehrels 9.21 1.335 4.39 0.691 9.2 15
COMET NAME Orbital Distance Ecc. Inc. Abs. Associated
period P A (°) mag. meteor shower
years
Neujmin 3 10.6 1.976 7.66 0.590 3.9 14
Vaisala 1 10.9 1.800 8.02 0.633 11.6 13
Klemola 10.9 1.766 8.09 0.642 10.6 10
Boethin 11.2 1.114 8.91 0.778 5.8 10
Gale 11.3 1.214 5.02 0.758 10.7 10
Slaughter-Burnham 11.6 2.544 7.71 0.504 8.2 14
Van Biesbroeck 12.4 2.401 5.37 0.552 6.6 7
Macholtz 2 12.8 0.752 3.01 0.750 12.8 ?
Wild 1 13.3 1.981 9.24 0.647 9.2 14
Tuttle 13.5 0.998 5.67 0.824 54.6 8 Ursids
Gehrels 1 14.5 2.935 8.97 0.507 9.6 11
du Toit 15.0 1.294 10.9 0.787 18.7 16
29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1 15.0 5.448 6.73 0.105 6.7 5
Neujmin 1 18.2 1.553 12.3 0.776 12.3 10
Crommelin 27.4 0.735 17.4 0.919 29.1 11
55P/Temple-Tuttle 32.9 0.982 19.6 0.982 162.7 13 Leonids
Stepham-Oterma 37.7 1.574 20.9 0.860 18.0 5
Olbers 69.6 1.178 32.6 0.930 44.6 5
Pons-Brooks 70.9 0.774 33.5 0.955 74.2 6
Brorsen-Metcalf 72.0 0.485 34.1 0.972 19.2 9
1P/Halley 76.0 0.587 35.3 0.967 162.2 4 eta Aquarids, Orionids
109P/Swift-Tuttle 133 0.958 51.7 0.964 113.4 4 Perseids
Herschel-Rigollet 155 0.748 56.9 0.974 64.2 8
COMET NAME Orbital Distance Ecc. Inc. Abs. Associated
period P A (°) mag. meteor shower
years
Notes:
(a) = 3D/Biela, comet lost.
(b) = Giacobinids meteor shower also known as the Draconids.
P = perihelion distance.
A = aphelion distance.
Ecc. = Eccentricity of orbit.
Inc. = Inclination of orbit to the ecliptic.
Abs. mag. = Absolute magnitude.
TABLE 15. NOTABLE OR BRIGHT COMETS OF LONG OR UNCERTAIN PERIOD
COMET NAME Year Orbital P Ecc. Inc. Notes.
seen period dist. (°)
years
Comet of 1680 1680 8 917 0.006 0.9999 6
1P/Halley 1759 76 0.587 0.967 162
Flaugergues 1811 I 3 096 1.035 0.995 10
1P/Halley 1835 76 0.587 0.967 162
Great Comet 1843 I 517 0.0055 0.99991 14
Donati's Comet 1858 VI 1 951 0.578 0.996 11
Great Comet 1861 I 409 0.882 0.985 85
Comet of 1861 1861 - - - - Discovered by Tebbutt.
Comet of 1862 1862 - - - - Discovered by Swift.
Coggia's Comet 1874 - - - -
Great Comet 1882 - - - - Seen from S. Africa.
Great Comet 1882 I 759 0.0077 0.99991 14
Bright Comet 1901 - - - - Discovered by Paysandu.
Morehouse's Comet 1908 III - - - -
Daylight Comet 1910 - - - - Brightest, 20th Cent.
1P/Halley 1910 76 0.587 0.967 162
C/1919 Q2 (Metcalf) 1919 - 1.12 1.00 46
Skjellerup's Comet 1927 - - - -
D/1937 D1 (Wilk) 1937 187 0.62 0.98 26
Bright Southern Comet 1947 - - - - Bright for brief period.
Arend-Roland 1957 III - - - -
Mkros 1957 - - - -
Pereyra 1963 V 903 0.0051 0.99995 14
C/1964 N1 (Ikeya) 1964 391 0.82 0.98 172
Ikeya-Seki (C/1965 S1) 1965 VIII 880 0.008 0.9999 142 (a)
Bennett (C/1969 Y1) 1970 II 1 678 0.538 0.996 90
C/1973 E1 (Kohoutek) 1973 XII - 0.14 1.00 14
C/1974 V2 (Bennett) 1974 - 0.86 1.00 135 (b)
C/1976 D2 (Schuster) 1976 - 6.88 1.00 112
C/1975 V1 (West) 1976 c.500 000 0.20 1.00 43
C/1980 E1 (Bowell) 1980 - 3.36 1.06 2
C/1983 H1 (IRAS-Araki-Alcock) 1983 - 0.99 0.99 73 (c)
C/1996 B2 (Hyakutake) 1996 c.21 000 0.23 1.00 125 (d)
C/1995 O1 (Hale-Bopp) 1997 c.2 500 0.91 1.00 89
C/1999 S4 (LINEAR) 2000 1 m + ? 0.76 0.99 149 (e)
COMET NAME Year Orbital P Ecc. Inc. Notes.
seen period dist. (°)
years
Notes:
P = perihelion distance.
Ecc. = Eccentricity of orbit.
Inc. = Inclination of orbit to the ecliptic.
(a) Comet thought to be parts of the Kreutz group which is thought to be the parts of what was once a much larger object.
(b) Comet disappeared or possibly disintegrated before perihelion.
(c) Comet passed within 0.03 AU of Earth on 11/5/83.
(d) Comet passed within 0.1 AU of Earth on 25/3/96.
(e) Comet observed disintegrating late July 2000.
TABLE 16. METEOR SHOWERS
SHOWER NAME DATES MAX. MAX. POSITION NOTES
FROM-TO DATE RATE R.A. DEC.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Quadrantids # Jan.1-6 Jan.3 100? 15h 28m +50° Blue & yellow meteors, medium
speed. Radiant in Bootes.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Virginids Mar.-Apr. Apr.10 5 14h 04m -09° 2 most prominent radiants of
Apr.7-18 5 13h 36m -11° several in Virgo, active
Mar. to Apr. Slow, long paths.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lyrids # Apr.19-25 Apr.22 10 18h 08m +32° Swift, bright meteors.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
eta Apr.24-May 20 May 4 40 22h 20m -01° Very fast meteors. Poorly
Aquarids seen from the U.K.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
alpha Apr.20-May 19 Apr.27 5 16h 31m -24° Low activity from several
Scorpiids May 12 5 16h 04m -24° radiants.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ophiuchids May 19-Jul. Jun.9 5 17h 56m -23° Low activity from several
Jun.19 5 17h 20m -20° radiants. Poorly seen from U.K.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
alpha Jul.-Aug. Jul.21 5 21h 00m +48° 2 radiants, produces steady
Cygnids Aug.21 activity throughout summer.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Capricornids Jul.-Aug. Jul.8 5 20h 44m -15° Bright, yellow-blue meteors.
Jul.15 21h 00m -15°
Jul.26
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
delta Jul.15-Aug.20 Jul.29 20 22h 36m -17° 2 radiants, rich shower, but
Aquarids Aug.6 10 23h 04m +02° faint meteors.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Piscis Jul.15-Aug.20 Jul.31 5 22h 40m -30° -
Australids
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
alpha # Jul.15-Aug.25 Aug.2 5 20h 36m -10° Slow, bright, yellow meteors.
Capricornids Fireballs often seen.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
iota Jul.-Aug. Aug.6 8 22h 10m -15° 2 radiants, rich in faint
Aquarids 22h 04m -06° meteors.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Perseids ## Jul.23-Aug.20 Aug.12 80 03h 04m +58° Rich, consistent shower.
Swift, bright trains.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Piscids Sep.-Oct. Sep.8 10 00h 36m +07° 3 radiants.
Sep.21 5 00h 24m 00°
Oct.13 ? 01h 44m +14°
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Orionids ## Oct.16-27 Oct.20 25 06h 24m +15° Fast meteors with fine,
often persistent trains.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Draconids Oct. 10 Oct.10 var. 18h 00m +54° Very feeble shower.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Taurids ## Oct.20-Nov.30 Nov.3 10 03h 44m +14° 2 radiants. Slow, often
03h 44m +22° bright meteors.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Leonids ## Nov.15-20 Nov.17 10 10h 08m +22° Fast, often bright meteors
with trains.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Andromedids Nov.15-Dec.6 Nov. 20 V.low 00h 50m +55° Shower now thought to be
dead. (Comet defunct)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Puppids-Velids Nov.27-Jan. Dec.9 15 09h 00m -48° 2 of several radiants in
Dec.26 09h 20m -65° Puppis, Vela and Carina.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Geminids ## Dec.7-16 Dec.13 100 07h 32m +33° Rich shower of medium speed
meteors. Many bright events.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ursids Dec.17-25 Dec.22 10 14h 28m +78° Weak shower.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SHOWER NAME DATES MAX. MAX. POSITION NOTES
FROM-TO DATE RATE R.A. DEC.
Notes:
Dates may vary as well as rates.
Showers which typically put on a good show are shown thus #.
TABLE 17. THE CONSTELLATIONS
English Genitive Abbr. Area Size
CONSTELLATION name name (sq.°) ranking
Andromeda Andromeda (Princess) Andromedae And 722 19
Antlia # The Air Pump Antliae Ant 239 62
Apus $ The Bird of Paradise Apodis Aps 206 67
Aquarius The Water Bearer Aquarii Aqr 980 10
Aquila The Eagle Aquilae Aql 652 22
Ara $ The Altar Arae Ara 237 63
Aries The Ram Arietis Ari 442 39
Auriga The Charioteer Aurigae Aur 657 21
Bootes The Herdsman Bootis Boo 907 13
Caelum # The Graving Tool Caeli Cae 125 81
Camelopardalis The Giraffe Camelopardalis Cam 757 18
Cancer The Crab Cancri Cnc 506 31
Canes Venatici The Hunting Dogs Canum Venaticorum CVn 465 38
Canis Major The Greater Dog Canis Majoris CMa 380 43
Canis Minor The Lesser Dog Canis Minoris CMi 183 71
Capricornus The Sea-Goat Capricorni Cap 414 40
Carina * $ The Keel Carinae Car 494 34
Cassiopeia Cassiopeia (Queen) Cassiopeiae Cas 598 25
Centaurus # The Centaur Centauri Cen 1060 9
Cepheus Cepheus (King) Cephei Cep 588 27
Cetus The Whale Ceti Cet 1231 4
Chamaeleon $ The Chamaeleon Chamaeleontis Cha 132 79
Circinus $ The Compasses Circini Cir 93 85
Columba # The Dove Columbae Col 270 54
Coma Berenices Berenice's Hair Comae Berenices Com 386 42
Corona Australis # The Southern Crown Coronae Australis CrA 128 80
Corona Borealis The Northern Crown Coronae Borealis CrB 179 73
Corvus The Crow Corvi Crv 184 70
Crater The Cup Crateris Crt 282 53
Crux $ The Cross Crucis Cru 68 88
Cygnus The Swan Cygni Cyg 804 16
Delphinus The Dolphin Delphini Del 189 69
Dorado $ The Goldfish Doradus Dor 179 72
Draco The Dragon Draconis Dra 1083 8
Equuleus The Little Horse Equulei Equ 72 87
Eridanus # The River Eridanus Eridani Eri 1138 6
Fornax # The Furnace Fornacis For 398 41
Gemini The Twins Geminorium Gem 514 30
Grus # The Crane Gruis Gru 366 45
Hercules Hercules Herculis Her 1225 5
Horologium $ The Pendulum Clock Horologii Hor 249 58
Hydra The Water-Snake Hydrae Hya 1303 1
Hydrus $ The Small Water-Snake Hydri Hyi 243 61
Indus $ The Indian Indi Ind 294 49
Lacerta The Lizard Lacertae Lac 201 68
Leo The Lion Leonis Leo 947 12
Leo Minor The Smaller Lion Leonis Minoris LMi 232 64
Lepus The Hare Leporis Lep 290 51
Libra The Scales Librae Lib 528 29
Lupus # The Wolf Lupi Lup 334 46
Lynx The Lynx Lyncis Lyn 545 28
Lyra The Lyre Lyrae Lyr 286 52
Mensa $ The Table (Mountain) Mensae Men 153 75
Microscopium # The Microscope Microscopii Mic 210 66
Monoceros The Unicorn Monocerotis Mon 482 35
Musca $ The Fly Muscae Mus 138 77
Norma $ The Level Mormae Nor 165 74
Octans $ The Octant Octanis Oct 291 50
Ophiuchus The Serpent-Holder Ophiuchi Oph 948 11
Orion Orion (the Hunter) Orionis Ori 594 26
Pavo $ The Peacock Pavonis Pav 378 44
Pegasus Pegasus Pegasi Peg 1121 7
Perseus Perseus Persei Per 615 24
Pheonix $ The Pheonix Pheonicis Phe 469 37
Pictor $ The Painter Pictoris Pic 247 59
Pisces The Fish Piscium Psc 889 14
Pisces Australis The Southern Fish Piscis Australis PsA 245 60
Puppis * # The Stern Puppis Pup 673 20
Pyxis # The Mariner's Compass Pyxidis Pyx 221 65
Reticulum $ The Net Reticuli Ret 114 82
Sagitta The Arrow Sagittae Sge 80 86
Sagittarius # The Archer Sagittarii Sgr 867 15
Scorpius # The Scorpion Scorpii Sco 497 33
Sculptor # The Sculptor Sculptoris Scl 475 36
Scutum The Shield Scuti Sct 109 84
Serpens The Serpent Serpentis Ser 637 23
Sextans The Sextant Sextantis Sex 314 47
Taurus The Bull Tauri Tau 797 17
Telescopium $ The Telescope Telescopii Tel 252 57
Triangulum The Triangle Trianguli Tri 132 78
Triangulum Australis $ The Southern Triangle Trianguli Australis TrA 110 83
Tucana $ The Toucan Tucanae Tuc 295 48
Ursa Major The Great Bear Ursae Majoris UMa 1280 3
Ursa Minor The Little Bear Ursae Minoris UMi 256 56
Vela * $ The Sails Velorum Vel 500 32
Virgo The Virgin Virginis Vir 1294 2
Volans $ The Flying Fish Volantis Vol 141 76
Vulpecula The Fox Vulpeculae Vul 268 55
CONSTELLATION English Genitive Abbr. Area Size
name name (sq.°) ranking
Notes:
* Part of the old constellation Argo Navis.
# Parts visible from the UK.
$ Never visible from the UK.
TABLE 18. THE 34 NEAREST STARS
R.A. Dec. Magnitude Magnitude Spectral Distance Solar
STAR h m ° ' Visual Absolute Class (l.y.) Luminosities
The Sun Sol # - - -26.72 4.8 G2 V - 1.0
Proxima Centauri (1) 14 29.7 -62 41 11.05v 15.5 dM5.5 eV 4.2 0.00006
alpha Centauri A # 14 39.6 -60 50 -0.01 4.4 G2 V 4.3 1.6
Alpha Centauri B - - 1.33 5.7 K0 V 4.3 0.45
Barnard's Star (2) 17 57.8 +04 34 9.54 13.2 M5 V 6.0 0.00045
Wolf 359 (3) 10 56.6 +07 01 13.53v 16.7 dM8 eV 7.7 0.00002
Lalande 21185 (4) 11 03.3 +35 58 7.5 10.5 M2.1 V 8.2 0.0055
UV Ceti A 01 38.8 -17 57 12.52v 15.5 dM5.6 V 8.4 0.00006
UV Ceti B (5) - - 13.03v 16.0 dM5.6 V 8.4 0.00004
Sirius A # 06 45.1 -16 43 -1.46 1.42 A1 V 8.6 26.0
Sirius B - - 8.3 11.2 DA VII 8.6 0.003
Ross 154 18 49.8 -22 50 10.45 13.13 dM5 eV 9.4 0.00048
Ross 248 23 41.9 +44 10 12.29 14.78 dM6 eV 10.4 0.00011
epsilon Eridani # 03 32.9 -09 28 3.73 6.14 K2 V 10.8 0.30
Ross 128 11 47.8 +00 48 11.10 13.47 dM5 V 10.9 0.00036
61 Cygni A # 21 06.9 +38 45 5.22v 7.6 K3.5 V 11.1 0.082
61 Cygni B - - 6.03 8.4 K4.7 V 11.1 0.039
epsilon Indi # 22 03.4 -56 47 4.68 7.0 K3 V 11.2 0.14
BD+43°44 A 00 18.5 +44 01 8.08 10.4 M1.3 V 11.2 0.0061
BD+43°44 B - - 11.06 13.4 M3.8 V 11.2 0.00039
Luyten 789-6 22 38.5 -15 19 12.18 14.5 dM7 e 11.2 0.00014
Procyon A # 07 39.3 +05 13 0.38 2.6 F5 IV-V 11.4 7.0
Procyon B - - 10.7 13.0 DF 11.4 0.00055
BD+59°1915 A 18 43.1 +59 38 8.90 11.2 M3.0 V 11.6 0.003
BD+59°1915 B - - 9.69 11.9 M3.5 V 11.6 0.0015
Lacaille 9352 (6) 23 05.9 -35 51 7.35 9.6 M1.3 Ve 11.7 0.013
Gliese 51-15 08 26.8 +26 57 14.81 17.03 M? 11.7 0.00001
tau Ceti # 01 41.7 -16 12 3.5 5.72 G8 V 11.8 0.45
Luyten's Star 07 24.7 +05 29 9.82 11.94 dM5 V 12.3 0.0015
L 725-32 01 09.8 -17 16 12.04 14.12 dM5 e 12.5 0.0002
Lacaille 8760 (7) 21 14.3 -36 09 6.66 8.74 M0 V 12.6 0.026
Kapteyn's Star 05 09.7 -45 00 8.84 10.88 sdM0 pec 12.7 0.0039
Kruger 60 A 22 26.3 +57 27 9.85 11.87 dM3 V 12.9 0.0016
Kruger 60 B - - 11.3 13.3 dM5 e 12.9 0.0004
STAR R.A. Dec. Magnitude Magnitude Spectral Distance Solar
h m ° ' Visual Absolute Class (l.y.) Luminosities
Notes:
v = variable.
d = dwarf.
e = emission lines.
pec = peculiar spectrum.
# = visible to the naked eye.
1. Proxima is also known as V645 Centauri.
2. Barnard's Star is also known as Munich 15040.
3. Wolf 359 is also known as CN Leonis.
4. Lalande 21185 is also known as BD+36° 2147.
5. UV Ceti B is sometimes referred to as Luytens' Flare Star.
6. Lacaille 9352 is also known as CoD-36°15693.
7. Lacaille 8760 is also known as CoD-39°14192.
TABLE 19. THE 51 BRIGHTEST STARS
R.A. Dec. Magnitude Spectral Distance Solar
STAR CON NAME h m ° ' Vis. Abs. Class (l.y.) Luminosities
The Sun Sol # - - -26.72 4.8 G2 V - 1.0
alpha CMa Sirius # 06 45.1 -16 43 -1.46 1.4 A1 V 8.6 26
alpha Car Canopus 06 24.0 -52 42 -0.72 -2.5 F0 I 1 200 200 000
alpha Cen Rigel Kent 14 39.6 -60 50 -0.27 4.1 G2 V+K1 V 4.3 1.7+1.5
alpha Boo Arcturus # 14 15.7 +19 11 -0.04 0.2 K1 III 34 115
alpha Lyr Vega # 18 36.9 +38 47 0.03 0.6 A0 V 25 52
alpha Aur Capella # 05 16.7 +46 00 0.08d 0.4 G6+G2 III 41 90.0+70.0
beta Ori Rigel # 05 14.5 -08 12 0.12 -8.1 B8 I 1 400 60 000
alpha CMi Procyon # 07 39.3 +05 13 0.38 2.6 F5 IV-V 11.4 7.0
alpha Eri Achernar 01 37.7 -57 14 0.46 -1.3 B3 V 69 400
alpha Ori Betelgeuse # 05 55.2 +07 24 0.50v -7.2 M2 I 1 400 15 000
beta Cen Agena 14 03.8 -60 22 0.61v -4.4 B1 II 320 10 500
alpha Aql Altair # 19 50.8 +08 52 0.77 2.3 A7 V 16 10
alpha Cru Acrux 12 26.6 -63 06 0.83d -4.6 B0 IV+B1 V 510 3200+2000
alpha Tau Aldebaran # 04 35.9 +16 31 0.85v -0.3 K5 III 60 100
alpha Sco Antares # 16 29.4 -26 26 0.96v -5.2 M1 I 520 7 500
alpha Vir Spica # 13 25.2 -11 10 0.98v -3.2 B1 V 220 2 100
beta Gem Pollux # 07 45.3 +28 01 1.14 0.7 K0 III 40 60
alpha PsA Formalhaut # 22 57.6 -29 37 1.16 2.0 A3 V 22 13
alpha Cyg Deneb # 20 41.4 +45 17 1.25 -7.2 A2 Ia 1 500 70 000
beta Cru Becrux 12 47.7 -59 41 1.25v -4.7 B0 III 460 8 200
alpha Leo Regulus # 10 08.4 +11 58 1.35 -0.3 B7 Vn 69 130
epsilon CMa Adhara # 06 58.6 -28 58 1.50 -4.8 B2 II 570 5 000
alpha Gem Castor # 07 34.6 +31 53 1.57d 0.5 A1 V+A2 V 49 45
gamma Cru Gacrux 12 31.2 -57 07 1.63v -1.2 M3 III 120 160
lambda Sco Shaula # 17 33.6 -37 06 1.63v -3.5 B1 IV 330 1 300
gamma Ori Bellatrix # 05 25.1 +06 20 1.64 -3.6 B2 IV 220 360
beta Tau Al Nath # 05 26.4 +28 36 1.65 -1.6 B7 IV 400 130
beta Car Miaplacidus 09 13.2 -69 43 1.68 -0.6 A0 IV 130 85
epsilon Ori Alnilam # 05 36.2 -01 12 1.70 -6.2 B0 I 1 200 23 000
alpha Gru Alnair 22 08.2 -46 57 1.74 -1.1 B5 III 68 230
zeta Ori Alnitak # 05 40.7 -01 56 1.77 -5.9 O9 I 1 100 19 000
epsilon UMa Alioth # 12 54.0 +55 57 1.77v 0.2 A0 IV 62 60
gamma Vel Regor 08 09.5 -47 20 1.78 -4.1 WC 7 520 3 800
alpha UMa Dubhe # 11 03.7 +61 45 1.79 0.2 K0 IV 75 60
alpha Per Mirphak # 03 24.4 +49 51 1.80 -4.6 F5 III 620 6 000
epsilon Sag Kaus Australis # 18 24.2 -34 23 1.85 -0.3 B9 IV 85 110
delta CMa Wezea # 07 08.4 -26 23 1.86 -8.0 F8 I 3 060 132 000
epsilon Car Avior 08 22.5 -59 30 1.86 -2.1 K0 III 200 600
eta UMa Alkaid # 13 47.5 +49 18 1.86 -1.7 B3 III 108 450
theta Sco Sargas 17 37.4 -42 59 1.87 -5.6 F0 II 900 14 000
beta Aur Menkarlina # 05 59.5 +44 56 1.90 0.6 A2 IV 46 50
alpha TrA Atria 16 48.6 -69 01 1.92 -0.1 K2 IV 55 96
gamma Gem Alhema # 06 37.7 +16 23 1.93 0.0 A0 IV 85 82
alpha Pav - 20 25.6 -56 44 1.94 -2.3 B3 III 230 700
delta Vel Koo She 08 44.7 -54 42 1.96 0.6 A0 IV 68 50
alpha Hyd Alphard # 09 27.6 +02 18 1.98 -0.2 K3 IV 65 105
beta CMa Mirzam # 06 22.6 -17 57 1.98v -4.8 B1 I 720 7 200
gamma Leo Algieba # 10 19.9 +19 50 1.99d 0.2 K0 IV+G7 IV 90 60
alpha UMi Polaris # 02 31.8 +89 15 1.99v -4.6 F8 III 680 6 000
alpha Ari Hamal # 02 07.2 +23 27 2.00 -0.1 K2 IV 85 96
STAR CON NAME R.A. Dec. Magnitude Spectral Distance Solar
h m ° ' Vis. Abs. Class (l.y.) Luminosities
Notes:
v = variable.
d = double star.
# = visible from the UK.
TABLE 20. STARS - SPECTRAL CLASSES AND PHYSICAL PARAMETERS
Main Sequence Dwarfs (V)
Spectral Absolute Surface Solar Solar Solar Density
Class Magnitude Temp.(°K) Masses Diameters Luminosities (kg/m3)
O5 -5.8 40 000 40 18 500 000 0.01
B0 -4.1 28 000 18 7.4 20 000 0.06
B5 -1.1 15 500 6.5 3.8 800 0.17
A0 +0.7 9 900 3.2 2.5 80 0.28
A5 +2.0 8 500 2.1 1.7 20 0.55
F0 +2.6 7 400 1.7 1.3 6.3 0.98
F5 +3.4 6 580 1.3 1.2 2.5 1.07
G0 +4.4 6 030 1.1 1.05 1.26 1.3
G5 +5.1 5 520 0.93 0.93 0.79 1.6
K0 +5.9 4 900 0.78 0.85 0.40 1.8
K5 +7.3 4 130 0.69 0.74 0.16 2.4
M0 +9.0 3 480 0.47 0.63 0.063 2.5
M5 +11.8 2 800 0.21 0.32 0.008 10
M8 +16.0 2 400 0.10 0.13 0.0008 63
Spectral Absolute Surface Solar Solar Solar Density
Class Magnitude Temp.(°K) Masses Diameters Luminosities (kg/m3)
(Figures in italics are open to question)
Giants (III)
Spectral Absolute Surface Solar Solar Solar Density
Class Magnitude Temp.(°K) Masses Diameters Luminosities (kg/m3)
O5 -5.5 40 000 50 20 20 000 0.001
B0 -5.0 30 000 20 15 8 500 0.008
B5 -2.2 15 000 7 8 650 0.02
A0 +0.0 10 000 4 5 85 0.04
A5 +0.7 8 000 3 4 45 0.03
F0 +1.5 7 000 2 4 20 0.02
F5 +1.6 6 500 1.5 5 20 0.015
G0 +1.1 5 750 1.5 6.3 30 0.01
G5 +0.7 5 000 2.0 10 45 0.003
K0 +0.5 4 500 2.5 15 55 0.0013
K5 -0.2 3 800 5.0 25 200 0.0004
M0 -0.4 3 200 6.3 40 400 0.0001
M5 -0.8 2 800 7 65 1 000 0.00005
Spectral Absolute Surface Solar Solar Solar Density
Class Magnitude Temp.(°K) Masses Diameters Luminosities (kg/m3)
(Figures in italics are open to question)
Supergiants (I)
Spectral Absolute Surface Solar Solar Solar Density
Class Magnitude Temp.(°K) Masses Diameters Luminosities (kg/m3)
O5 -6.8 40 000 100 30 45 000 0.005
B0 -6.4 30 000 35 25 30 000 0.003
B5 -6.2 14 000 25 40 25 000 0.0005
A0 -6.3 10 000 16 50 28 000 0.0002
A5 -6.6 8 500 13 60 37 500 0.00008
F0 -6.6 7 500 12.5 70 37 500 0.00005
F5 -6.6 7 000 10 85 37 500 0.00002
G0 -6.4 5 500 10 110 30 000 0.000013
G5 -6.2 4 850 12 135 25 000 0.000007
K0 -6.0 4 250 13 200 20 000 0.000002
K5 -5.8 3 750 14 400 18 000 0.0000003
M0 -5.6 3 200 16 500 15 000 0.00000015
M5 -5.6 2 800 20 800 15 000 0.00000005
Spectral Absolute Surface Solar Solar Solar Density
Class Magnitude Temp.(°K) Masses Diameters Luminosities (kg/m3)
TABLE 21. THE MESSIER OBJECTS
M NGC Con. R.A. Dec. Size Mag. Dist. Notes
No No h m ° ' (') (l.y.)
M 1 1952 Tau 05 34.5 +22 01 6x4 c.8.4 6 000 Supernova remnant. (1)
M 2 7089 Aqr 21 33.5 -00 49 13 6.5 50 000 Globular cluster.
M 3 5272 CVn 13 42.2 +28 23 16 6.4 30 000 Globular cluster.
M 4 6121 Sco 16 23.6 -26 32 26 5.9 10 000 Globular cluster.
M 5 5904 Ser 15 18.6 +02 05 17 5.8 30 000 Globular cluster.
M 6 6405 Sco 17 40.1 -32 13 15 4.2 2 000 Open cluster, 80 stars. (2)
M 7 6475 Sco 17 53.9 -34 49 80 3.3 1 000 Open cluster, 80 stars.
M 8 6523 Sgr 18 03.8 -24 23 90x40 c.5.8 6 500 Diffuse nebula. (3)
M 9 6333 Oph 17 19.2 -18 31 9 c.7.9 25 000 Globular cluster.
M 10 6254 Oph 16 57.1 -04 06 15 6.6 16 000 Globular cluster.
M 11 6705 Sct 18 51.1 -06 16 14 5.8 6 000 Open cluster, 500 stars. (4)
M 12 6218 Oph 16 47.2 -01 57 14 6.6 16 000 Globular cluster.
M 13 6205 Her 16 41.7 +36 28 17 5.9 25 000 Globular cluster.
M 14 6402 Oph 17 37.6 -03 15 12 7.6 23 000 Globular cluster.
M 15 7078 Peg 21 30.0 +12 10 12 6.4 40 000 Globular cluster.
M 16 6611 Ser 18 18.8 -13 47 7 6.0 7 000 Open cluster and diffuse nebula. (5)
M 17 6618 Sgr 18 20.8 -16 11 46x37 7.0 5 000 Diffuse nebula and open cluster. (6)
M 18 6613 Sgr 18 19.9 -17 08 9 6.9 6 000 Open cluster, 20 stars.
M 19 6273 Oph 17 02.6 -26 16 14 7.2 20 000 Globular cluster.
M 20 6514 Sgr 18 02.6 -23 02 29x27 7.0 2 200 Diffuse nebula. (7)
M 21 6531 Sgr 18 04.6 -22 30 13 5.9 3 000 Open cluster, 70 stars.
M 22 6656 Sgr 18 36.4 -23 54 24 5.1 10 000 Globular cluster.
M 23 6494 Sgr 17 56.8 -19 01 27 5.5 4 500 Open cluster, 150 stars.
M 24 - Sgr 18 16.9 -18 29 90 c.4.5 10 000 Star cloud + open cluster NGC 6603.
M 25 IC4725 Sgr 18 31.6 -19 15 32 4.6 2 000 Open cluster, 30 stars.
M 26 6694 Sct 18 45.2 -09 24 15 8.0 5 000 Open cluster, 30 stars.
M 27 6853 Vul 19 59.6 +22 43 8x4 c.8.1 1 250 Planetary nebula. (8)
M 28 6626 Sgr 18 24.5 -24 52 11 c.6.9 15 000 Globular cluster.
M 29 6913 Cyg 20 23.9 +38 32 7 6.6 7 200 Open cluster, 50 stars.
M 30 7099 Cap 21 40.4 -23 11 11 7.5 40 000 Globular cluster.
M 31 224 And 00 42.7 +41 16 178x63 3.4 2.3m Spiral galaxy, type Sb. (9)
M 32 221 And 00 42.7 +40 52 8x6 8.2 2.3m Elliptical galaxy, type E2. (10)
M 33 598 Tri 01 33.9 +30 39 62x39 5.7 2.3m Spiral galaxy, type Sc. (11)
M 34 1039 Per 02 42.0 +42 47 35 5.2 1 400 Open cluster, 60 stars.
M 35 2168 Gem 06 08.9 +24 20 28 5.1 2 800 Open cluster, 200 stars.
M 36 1960 Aur 05 36.1 +34 08 12 6.0 4 100 Open cluster, 60 stars.
M 37 2099 Aur 05 52.4 +32 33 24 5.6 4 600 Open cluster, 150 stars.
M 38 1912 Aur 05 28.7 +35 50 21 6.4 4 200 Open cluster, 100+ stars.
M 39 7092 Cyg 21 32.2 +48 26 32 4.6 900 Open cluster, 30 stars.
M 40 WNC4 UMa 12 22.4 +58 05 - 8.0 - Double star, separation 49".
M 41 2287 CMa 06 47.0 -20 44 38 4.5 2 400 Open cluster, 80 stars.
M 42 1976 Ori 05 35.4 -05 27 66x60 4.0 1 000 Diffuse nebula. (12)
M 43 1982 Ori 05 35.6 -05 16 20x15 9.0 1 000 Diffuse nebula, adjacent to M42.
M 44 2632 Cnc 08 40.1 +19 59 95 3.1 500 Open cluster, 50 stars. (13)
M 45 - Tau 03 47.0 +24 07 110 1.2 400 Open cluster, 300+ stars. (14)
M 46 2437 Pup 07 41.8 -14 49 27 6.1 5 400 Open cluster, 100 stars.
M 47 2422 Pup 07 36.6 -14 30 30 4.4 1 600 Open cluster, 30 stars.
M 48 2548 Hya 08 13.8 -05 48 54 5.8 1 500 Open cluster, 80 stars.
M 49 4472 Vir 12 29.8 +08 00 9x7 8.4 70m Elliptical galaxy, type E4.
M 50 2323 Mon 07 03.2 -08 20 16 5.9 3 000 Open cluster, 80 stars.
M 51 5194-5 CVn 13 29.9 +47 12 11x8 8.1 15m Spiral galalaxy, type Sc. (15)
M 52 7654 Cas 23 24.2 +61 35 13 6.9 7 000 Open cluster, 100stars.
M 53 5024 Com 13 12.9 +18 10 13 7.7 60 000 Globular cluster.
M 54 6715 Sgr 18 55.1 -30 29 9 7.7 50 000 Globular cluster.
M 55 6809 Sgr 19 40.0 -30 58 19 7.0 20 000 Globular cluster.
M 56 6779 Lyr 19 16.6 +30 11 7 8.2 40 000 Globular cluster.
M 57 6720 Lyr 18 53.6 +33 02 1 c.9.0 4 100 Planetary nebula. (16)
M 58 4579 Vir 12 35.1 +12 05 5x4 9.2 70m Spiral Galaxy, type Sb.
M 59 4621 Vir 12 39.5 +11 55 5x3 9.6 70m Elliptical galaxy, type E3.
M 60 4649 Vir 12 41.1 +11 49 7x6 8.9 70m Elliptical galaxy, type E1.
M 61 4303 Vir 12 21.9 +04 28 6x5 9.7 70m Spiral galaxy, type Sc.
M 62 6266 Oph 17 01.2 -30 07 14 6.6 26 000 Globular cluster.
M 63 5055 CVn 13 15.8 +42 02 12x8 8.6 14.5m Spiral galaxy, type Sb.
M 64 4826 Com 12 56.7 +21 41 9x5 8.5 12m Spiral galaxy, type Sa/b. (17)
M 65 3623 Leo 11 18.9 +13 05 10x3 9.3 35m Spiral galaxy, type Sa.
M 66 3627 Leo 11 20.2 +12 59 9x4 9.0 35m Spiral galaxy, type Sb.
M 67 2682 Cnc 18 50.4 +11 49 30 6.9 2 250 Open cluster, 200stars.
M 68 4590 Hya 12 39.5 -26 45 12 8.2 40 000 Globular cluster.
M 69 6637 Sgr 18 31.4 -32 21 7 7.7 25 000 Globular cluster.
M 70 6681 Sgr 18 43.2 -32 18 8 8.1 65 000 Globular cluster.
M 71 6838 Sge 19 53.8 +18 47 7 8.3 8 500 Globular cluster.
M 72 6981 Aqr 20 53.5 -12 32 6 9.4 60 000 Globular cluster.
M 73 6994 Aqr 20 58.9 -12 38 - 9.0 - Open cluster, group of 4 stars.
M 74 628 Psc 01 36.7 +15 47 10x9 9.2 20m Spiral galaxy, type Sc.
M 75 6864 Sgr 20 06.1 -21 55 6 8.6 100 000 Globular cluster.
M 76 650-1 Per 01 42.4 +51 34 2x1 c.11.5 3 400 Planetary nebula. (18)
M 77 1068 Cet 02 42.7 -00 01 7x6 8.8 30m Barred-spiral galaxy, type SBp.
M 78 2068 Ori 05 46.7 +00 03 8x6 8.0 1 600 Emission nebula.
M 79 1904 Lep 05 24.5 -24 33 9 8.4 54 000 Globular cluster.
M 80 6093 Sco 16 17.0 -22 59 9 7.2 36 000 Globular cluster.
M 81 3031 UMa 09 55.6 +69 04 26x14 6.8 7m Spiral galaxy, type SB.
M 82 3034 UMa 09 55.8 +69 41 11x5 8.4 7m Irregular galaxy, type Pec.
M 83 5236 Hya 13 37.0 -29 52 11x10 c.7.6 8m Spiral galaxy, type Sc.
M 84 4374 Vir 12 22.6 +13 10 5x4 9.3 70m Elliptical galaxy, type E1.
M 85 4382 Com 12 22.8 +18 28 7x5 9.3 70m Spherical galaxy, type Ep.
M 86 4406 Vir 12 23.7 +13 13 7x6 9.7 70m Elliptical galaxy, type E2.
M 87 4486 Vir 12 28.3 +12 40 7 9.2 70m Elliptical galaxy, type E1. (19)
M 88 4501 Com 12 29.5 +14 42 7x4 10.2 40m Spiral galaxy, type Sb.
M 89 4552 Vir 12 33.1 +12 50 4 9.5 70m Elliptical galaxy, type E0.
M 90 4569 Vir 12 34.3 +13 26 10x5 10.0 70m Spiral galaxy, type Sb.
M 91 4548 Com 12 35.4 +14 30 5x4 10.2 40m Barred-spiral galaxy, type SBb.
M 92 6341 Her 17 17.1 +43 08 11 6.5 28 000 Globular cluster.
M 93 2447 Pup 07 44.6 -23 52 22 c.6.2 36 000 Open cluster, 80 stars.
M 94 4736 CVn 12 50.9 +41 07 11x9 8.1 14.5m Spiral galaxy, type Sb.
M 95 3351 Leo 10 44.0 +11 42 7x5 9.7 25m Barred-spiral galaxy, type SBb.
M 96 3368 Leo 10 46.8 +11 49 7x5 9.2 25m Spiral galaxy, type Sa.
M 97 3587 UMa 11 14.8 +55 01 3 c.11.2 2 600 Planetary nebula. (20)
M 98 4192 Com 12 13.8 +14 54 10x3 10.1 70m Spiral galaxy, type Sb.
M 99 4254 Com 12 18.8 +14 25 5 9.8 70m Spiral galaxy, typeSc.
M100 4321 Com 12 22.9 +15 49 7x6 9.4 70m Spiral galaxy, type Sc.
M101 5457 UMa 14 03.2 +54 21 27x26 7.7 15m Spiral galaxy, type Sc. (21)
M102 - - - - - - - Duplicate of M 101
M103 581 Cas 01 33.2 +60 42 6 c.7.4 8 000 Open cluster, 25 stars.
M104 4594 Vir 12 40.0 -11 37 9x4 8.3 50m Spiral galaxy, type Sb. (22)
M105 3379 Leo 10 47.8 +12 35 4x4 9.3 25m Elliptical galaxy, type E1.
M106 4258 CVn 12 19.0 +47 18 18x8 8.3 25m Spiral galaxy, type Sb.
M107 6171 Oph 16 32.5 -13 03 10 8.1 10 000 Globular cluster.
M108 3556 UMa 11 11.5 +55 40 8x2 10.0 25m Spiral galaxy, type Sb.
M109 3992 UMa 11 57.6 +53 23 8x5 9.8 25m Barred-spiral galaxy, type SBb.
M110 205 And 00 40.4 +41 41 17x10 8.0 2.3m Elliptical galaxy, type E6. (23)
M NGC Con. R.A. Dec. Size Mag. Dist. Notes
No No h m ° ' (') (l.y.)
Notes: Dimensions are as seen on long exposure photographs, objects appear smaller visually. All co-ordinates are epoch 2000.0.
(1) M1, The Crab Nebula.
(2) M6, The Butterfly.
(3) M8, The Lagoon.
(4) M11, The Wild Duck.
(5) M16, The Eagle Nebula.
(6) M17, The Omega Nebula.
(7) M20, The Triffid Nebula.
(8) M27, The Dumbbell Nebula.
(9) M31, The Andromeda Galaxy.
(10) M32, companion to M31.
(11) M33, The Pinwheel.
(12) M42, The Great Orion Nebula.
(13) M44, The Beehive or Praesepe.
(14) M45, The Pleiades or Seven Sisters.
(15) M51, The Whirlpool.
(16) M57, The Ring Nebula.
(17) M64, The Black-eye.
(18) M76, The Little Dumbbell.
(19) M87, Virgo A.
(20) M97, The Owl Nebula.
(21) M101, The Pinwheel.
(22) M104, The Sombrero.
(23) M110, companion to M31.
TABLE 22. THE LOCAL GROUP OF GALAXIES
Name R.A. Dec. Type Abs. Vis. Dist. Diam.
h m ° ' mag. mag. (l.y) (l.y.)
The Galaxy Sb/Sc -20.6 - - 100 000
Sagittarius Dwarf 19 00 -29 00 dSph -13.0 - 81 500 10 000
Large Magellanic Cloud 05 24 -69 45 Ir III-IV -18.1 0.1 160 000 30 000
Small Magellanic Cloud 00 53 -72 50 Ir IV-V -16.2 2.3 190 000 16 000
Ursa Minor dwarf 15 08 +67 12 dSph -8.9 12.0 205 500 2 000
Draco Dwarf 17 20 +57 55 dSph -8.6 11.0 248 000 3 000
Sculptor Dwarf 00 59 -33 42 dSph -10.7 10.0 254 000 5 000
Sextans Dwarf 10 13 -01 37 dSph -10.0 - 257 500 -
Carina Dwarf 06 41 -50 58 dSph -8.9 - 283 500 -
Fornax Dwarf 02 40 -34 32 dSph -13.7 8.0 427 000 7 000
Leo II 11 13 +22 10 dSph -9.4 11.5 701 000 3 000
Leo I 10 08 +12 18 dSph -11.7 9.8 890 000 2 000
Phoenix Dwarf 01 51 -44 27 dIr/dSph -9.9 - 1 271 000 -
NGC 6822 19 44 -14 48 Ir IV-V -16.4 9.0 1 760 500 5 000
NGC 185 00 39 +48 20 dSph/dE3p -15.3 9.2 2 021 000 8 000
NGC 147 00 33 +48 30 dSph/dE5 -15.1 9.3 2 152 000 2 000
Andromeda Galaxy (M 31) 00 42 +41 16 Sb I-II -21.1 3.4 2 363 500 130 000
M 32 (NGC 221) 00 40 +41 41 E2 -16.4 8.2 2 363 500 6 000
M 110 (NGC 205) 00 40 +41 41 S0/E5p -16.3 8.0 2 363 500 12 000
Andromeda I 00 45 +38 00 dSph -11.8 13.2 2 363 500 2 000
Andromeda II 01 16 +33 27 dSph -11.8 13.0 2 363 500 -
Andromeda III 00 35 +36 31 dSph -10.3 13.0 2 363 500 -
LGS 3 01 03 +21 53 dIr -10.2 15.0 2 477 500 -
IC 1613 01 05 +02 07 IrV -14.9 9.3 2 494 000 8 000
M 33 01 33 +30 39 Sc II-III -18.9 5.7 2 592 000 52 000
Aquarius Dwarf (DDO210) 20 47 -12 51 dIr -11.5 - 2 608 000 -
Tucana Dwarf 22 41 -64 25 dSph -9.5 - 2 836 000 -
WLM 00 02 +15 28 Ir IV-V -14.1 10.9 3 064 500 -
Sagittarius (SagDIG) 19 20 -17 41 dIr -11.0 15.0 3 586 000 -
Antlia Dwarf 10 04 -27 20 dSph -10.7 14.8 3 749 000 -
IC 10 00 20 +59 18 dIr -17.6 10.3 4 075 000 -
Name R.A. Dec Type Abs. Vis. Dist. Diam.
h m ° ' mag. mag. (l.y) (l.y.)
TABLE 23. TELESCOPE PERFORMANCE
Clear aperture Limiting Dawes Max.
mm Inch magnitude limit power
50 2.0 11.2 2.3" x 100
60 2.4 11.6 1.9" x 120
75 3.0 12.1 1.5" x 150
100 4.0 12.6 1.2" x 200
112 4.5 13.0 1.0" x 225
125 5.0 13.2 0.9" x 250
150 6.0 13.6 0.8" x 300
200 8.0 14.2 0.6" x 400
250 10.0 14.7 0.5" x 500
300 12.0 15.1 0.4" x 600
Notes:
Limiting magnitude refers to the faintest star visible.
Dawes limit refers to the closest stars resolvable.
Maximum practical power for any given telescope is typically 2 times the aperture in millimetres although in practice powers over about 400 times are not always useful.
In all above instances, the figures quoted are for a telescope in good working order and observations are conducted under good viewing conditions.
TABLE 24. ATMOSPHERIC EXTINCTION
Zenith Altitude Extinction
distance (mag.)
(°) (°)
47 43 0.1
58 32 0.2
64 26 0.3
69 21 0.4
71 19 0.5
73 17 0.6
75 15 0.7
77 13 0.8
79 11 0.9
80 10 1.0
82 8 1.2
84 6 1.5
86 4 2.0
88 2 2.5
89 1 3.0
The title of this table speaks for itself - how much an object is dimmed depending how close it is to the horizon. The figures for magnitude are on the assumption that viewing conditions are good. Naturally, if the sky conditions are poor an object will be further dimmed by the Earth's atmosphere.
© Derek Haselden 2001
Source: Solent
Amateur Astronomers Society, amateur Society based in Southampton, United Kingdom
