CANES VENATICI AND COMA BERENICES

Two constellations ride the sky south of the Big Dipper. At the left is Canes Venatici (the Hunting Dogs), a modern constellation marked principally by Cor Caroli and considerably dimmer Chara. These two an the star up and to the right of Cor Caroli make the southern of the two dogs, originally called by the star's name "Chara." The northern dog, "Asterion," is marked by the little clump of stars down and to the left of Cor Caroli. Farther south (to the right) is the lacy cluster that makes the lovely constellation Coma Berenices (Berenice's Hair). The North Galactic Pole (NGP), the northern perpendicular to the plane of our Galaxy, lies down and to the left of Coma Berenices, and is marked by 31 Comae, the north Galactic pole star, "Polaris Galacticus Borealis."