Monoceros, the Unicorn (Mon)

(muh-NAH-ser-us)

The Northern constellation of Monoceros, the Unicorn, is best viewed in Winter during the month of February. It's brightest star is Beta Monocerotis at magnitude 3.76. The boundary of the Monoceros constellation contains 14 stars that host known exoplanets.

1. Pronunciation:
2. muh-NAH-ser-us

1. Meaning:
2. Unicorn

1. Genitive:
2. Monocerotis

1. Abbreviation:
2. Mon

1. Constellation Family:
2. Orion

1. Hemisphere:
2. Northern

1. Quadrant:
2. NQ2

1. Best viewing month*:
2. February

1. Right Ascension (avg):
2. 6h 58m

1. Declination (avg):
2. -3° 16'

1. Brightest star:
2. Beta Monocerotis (3.76)

1. Stars with planets:
2. 14

1. X-ray stars:
2. 1 stars

1. Caldwell catalog objects:
2. C46 | C49 | C50 | C54 |

Brightest Stars in Monoceros

The 10 brightest stars in the constellation Monoceros by magnitude.

1. Star
2. Magnitude
3. Spectral class

1. Alpha Monocerotis (α Mon)
2. 3.94
3. K0III

1. Gamma Monocerotis (γ Mon)
2. 3.99
3. K3III

1. Delta Monocerotis (δ Mon)
2. 4.15
3. A2V

1. Zeta Monocerotis (ζ Mon)
2. 4.36
3. G2Ib

1. Epsilon Monocerotis (ε Mon)
2. 4.39
3. A5IV

1. 13 Monocerotis (13 Mon)
2. 4.47
3. A0Ib

1. 18 Monocerotis (18 Mon)
2. 4.48
3. K0III

1. Beta Monocerotis (β Mon A)
2. 4.6
3. B3Ve

1. S Monocerotis (S Mon)
2. 4.66
3. O7V + O9.5V

1. 28 Monocerotis (28 Mon)
2. 4.68
3. K4III

Double Stars in Monoceros

These are the brightest and easiest-to-find double, triple, and quadruple star systems in the constellation Monoceros . Also see all star clusters.

1. Star system
2. Magnitudes
3. Type

1. Epsilon Monocerotis
2. 4.4, 6.6
3. double

1. Beta Monocerotis
2. 4.6, 5.0, 4.6, 5.4
3. quadruple

Star Clusters in Monoceros

The most notable and easy-to-find star clusters in the constellation Monoceros . Also see all star clusters.

1. Star cluster
2. Catalog #
3. Cluster type

1. Christmas Tree Cluster
3. open

1. Cone Nebula
3. open

1. Messier 50
2. M50
3. open

1. NGC 2232
3. open

1. NGC 2301
3. open

1. Satellite Cluster
2. C50
3. open

Nebulae in Monoceros

Notable and easy-to-find nebulae in the constellation Monoceros . Also see all nebulae.

1. Nebula name
2. Catalog #
3. Nebula type

1. Butterfly Nebula
3. planetary

1. Cone Nebula
3. dark

1. Hubble's Variable Nebula
2. C46
3. reflection

1. Red Rectangle Nebula
3. protoplanetary

1. Rosette Nebula
2. C49
3. diffuse

1. Seagull Nebula
3. emission

Black Holes in Monoceros

These are the most well-known smaller (non-supermassive) black holes in the constellation Monoceros. Although black holes cannot be seen directly, the smaller ones are at the center of some star clusters and supernova remnant nebulae, which can be seen. Supermassive black holes are at the center of most galaxies, such as Sagittarius A* at the center of our Milky Way galaxy. Also see all black holes.

1. Black hole
3. Type

1. V616 Mon
3. stellar

Exoplanets in Monoceros

These are the most notable named exoplanet systems known in the constellation Monoceros. Bear in mind that we will likely discover billions of exoplanets in the years to come. Also see all exoplanets.

1. Host star name
3. Exoplanet name

1. Citala
3. Cayahuanca

1. Lusitania
3. Viriato

* For southern latitudes, flip the season listed. For example, if a constellation is listed as best viewed in the summer in the month of July, in the southern hemisphere the constellation would be best viewed in the winter in January and would be upside-down.

** Circumpolar constellations are visible year-round in the hemisphere listed (and not at all in the opposite).