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. Neither is part of the cluster.
Gamma is the bright star near the top
of the cluster, while 17 Com is the third in the row of brighter stars
down and to the left of it.
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.
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To see a labelled image, push the star:
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See Coma Berenices in context with
Leo Minor, Leo, and Virgo.
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