Though the formal constellation of Coma Berenices
(Berenices's Hair) is focussed on the
Coma Berenices Cluster (seen just
to the right of center), it covers
much more territory. Diadem (Alpha Comae) is at the lower left
edge, while Beta (un-named) is the brighter star up
and to the right. Gamma is the bright star near the top
of the cluster. Of the three, only Gamma is part of the cluster.
Coma Berenices is just south of
Canes Venatici, the two constellations
seen to the west of Bootes.
Coma Berenices contains the North Galactic Pole, the north end
of the perpendicular to the plane of the Galaxy (seen as the Milky Way),
which is marked by the brighter of the pair of stars down and
to the right of Beta, 31 Comae, "Polaris Galacticus Borealis"
(which also belongs to the cluster).
The South Galactic Pole is in Sculptor.
|
