Constellations

The Deep Photographic Guide to the
Constellations

The constellation of the month
NOVEMBER

Cetus

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Names:

Latin: Cetus (Cet)
English: Whale Spanish: Ballena
German: Walfisch French: Baleine

The constellation of Cetus is shown in the above photography. It extends somewhat more out to the upper left direction (see lines). Our standard field of view of 39 x 27 degrees is a bit too small for this extended constellation.

In mid of November the above field culminates at about 10pm local time. The declination of Cetus ranges from -25 to +10 degrees. Cetus can be found south of Pisces.

The angular distance of Cetus from the galactic plane is about 75 degrees south and therefore quite close to the southern galactic pole. The only brighter deep sky objects are the galaxy M 77 and the planetary nebula NGC 246. But Cetus is famous for the red giant Mira, a pulsating variable star that changes its brightness from faint 10 mag to bright 3 or sometimes even 2 mag with a period of 332 days.

© all photographs taken by Till Credner and Sven Kohle