Constellations

The Deep Photographic Guide to the
Constellations

The constellation of the month
MAY

Crux, Musca, Carina

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Mark the Deep Sky Objects

Names:

Latin: Crux (Cru), Musca (Mus), Carina (Car)
English: Southern Cross, Fly, Keel Spanish: Cruz, Mosca, Quilla
German: Kreuz des Südens, Fliege, Schiffskiel French: Croix du Sud, Mouche, Carène

Crux, the Southern Cross, can be seen on the very left side of the photography (see lines). Probably it is the best known constellation of the south, even if it is the smallest constellation of the entire sky. Best observing time in mid may is 21:30 (9:30 pm) local time, but of course you have to be below geographic latitude of 30 degrees north. Below Crux is the constellation Musca and on the right hand side is half of the extended constellation Carina. The bright band of the milky way is crossing our field of view. There are several interesting deep sky objects, like the dark "Coal Sack" just below Crux and the bright Emission Nebula around Eta Carinae.

© all photographs taken by Till Credner and Sven Kohle