Constellation Centaurus (Centaur)
Properties
Centaurus is an expansive constellation with an unusually large number of bright stars and an area of 1060 square degrees, south of Hydra. The center culminates around midnight on April 6th. Between the centaur's hooves is the Southern Cross. [9, 15]
| α1 Cen | Rigel Kentaurus, Rigil Kent, Toliman |
| β Cen | Agena, Hadar |
| θ Cen | Menkent |
| IAU Name | Centaurus |
| IAU Genitive | Centauri |
| IAU Abbr. | Cen |
| English Name | Centaur |
| Opposition | 3 April |
| Season (47° N) | March … April |
| Right Ascension | 11h 05m 21s … 15h 03m 11s |
| Declination | -64° 41' 45" … -29° 59' 42" |
| Area | 1060 deg2 |
| Neighbours (N↻) | Hya, Ant, Vel, Car, Mus, Cru, Cir, Lup, Lib |
Deep-Sky Object Descriptions
Catalogues
Mythology and History
In Greek mythology, the centaurs were mostly wild hybrid creatures with the upper body of a human being up to the waist, including the body of a horse. The centaur Chiron, on the other hand, was very wise and especially well versed in medicine, music and botany. He was the teacher of Achilles and Asclepius. Chiron was also the protector of many heroes and is said to have "invented" the constellations. He was even transported to heaven after Hercules accidentally hit him with a poisoned arrow (this explanation is sometimes also passed down for Sagittarius, another "heavenly" centaur). In the sky he is supposed to keep King Lykaon (Lupus), who has been transformed into a wolf, at bay.
The constellation was known to the Greeks because, due to the precession of the earth's axis 2000-3000 years ago, it could be fully seen from the Mediterranean, Lower Egypt and the Middle East. [7]