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Sky Chart and Artist Rendering of Telescopium
Origin:
One of the 14 constellations in the southern sky, introduced by the French
astronomer, Nicolas Louis de Lacaille
in 1754 memorializing the invention of the telescope, the optical
instrument which forever changed humankind's vision of their location
and significance in the cosmos. Another important optical
instrument, the microscope, was also immortalized nearby in the southern
sky by Lacaille - the microscope - with the constellation Microscopium.
Information:
Telescopium can be found south of Sagittarius
and southwest of Corona Australis but is
so near the horizon for observers north of 30° N lat. that the faint
stars may not be visible. The brightest stars (which are also the
most northern stars) of Telescopium culminate at 9 pm on the last days of
August. For observers far enough south to enjoy the constellation,
it contains a small but beautiful and condensed globular cluster (NGC
6584), a small and faint planetary nebula (gas released from a dead star),
and a few faint galaxies which require at least a 25-cm (10")
telescope to truly enjoy. |
