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Microscopium

The Microscope

Constellation of the southern sky

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GenitiveMicroscopii
AbbreviationMic
Constellation FamilyLa Caille
Celestial QuadrantSQ4
Right Ascension20h29 to 21h29
Declination-45.0° to -27.5°
Area (sq deg)210
Brightest StarGamma Microscopii
Optimum VisibilityAugust
NotesA small and indistinct group of stars lying directly southward of Capricornus. Historically, this region of the sky was variously assigned to either Sagittarius to the west or Piscis Austrinus to the east, but since the mid-eighteenth century this handful of faint stars has been seen as an independent constellation.
Map of Microscopium Map of Microscopium

A very faint and insignificant region of the southern sky. Even its brightest star, Gamma Microscopii, is on the borders of naked eye visibility: this means that, to some observers, the entire constellation is effectively invisible.

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