Microscopium is a small southern constellation comprised of only faint stars. It is situated directly south of Capricornus and east of Sagittarius. It is a fall constellation for northern observers, visible only near the southern horizon. For southern observers, it is a spring constellation seen high in the sky.
History and MythologyMicroscopium is one of the many southern constellations named to represent a scientific instrument. Both the microscope and telescope were placed in sky by Nicholas Louis de Lacaille in the 1750's.
Notable Objects
Microscopium consists of several stars of 5th and 6th magnitude. Fifth-magnitude Alpha Microscopii is an interesting double star in a small telescope. It has a 10th magnitude companion about 20 arcseconds from the primary. Gamma Telescopii is a magnitude 4.7 yellow giant, which is 230 light-years away. Epsilon is a blue-white star of magnitude 4.7 and is at a distance of 110 light-years.
There are no prominent star clusters or nebulae in Microscopium. NGC 6925 is an 11th magnitude spiral galaxy found along the west edge of Microscopium. It is a highly inclined system with tightly wound spiral arms. It is best seen in a 12 inch telescope or larger.