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Milky Way - Constellations

Along its way in the sky, the Milky Way touches the large number of 38 constellations, i.e. the Milky Way band of increased star density covers at least parts of these constellations; the 27 in boldface are crossed by the Galactic Equator:
And, Aql, Ara, Aur, Cam, CMa, CMi, Car, Cas, Cen, Cep, Cir, CrA, Cru, Cyg, Del, Gem, Her, Lac, Lup, Lyr, Mon, Mus, Nor, Ori, Oph, Per, Pup, Pyx, Sge, Sgr, Sco, Sct, SerCd, Tau, TrA, Vel, Vul.
It is exceptional at first glance that one great circle like the Galactic Equator crosses so many constellations (compare e.g. the zodiac which touches only 14 and crosses 13 constellations), but less peculiar when considering that the density of bright stars is much higher in low galactic latitudes, i.e. near the galactic equator, and that bright stars were always used to define constellations.

The constellations along the Galactic Equator are as follows, with longitudes given:

Const  Longitude

Sgr 0.0 - 14.9 SerCd 14.9 - 17.2 Sct 17.2 - 28.6 Aql 28.6 - 35.4 SerCd 35.4 - 36.7 Aql 36.7 - 51.5 Sge 51.5 - 54.9 Vul 54.9 - 66.3 Cyg 66.3 - 100.4 Cep 100.4 - 108.9 Cas 108.9 - 109.0 Cep 109.0 - 111.5 Cas 111.5 - 141.3 Cam 141.3 - 141.6 Per 141.6 - 141.9 Cam 141.9 - 149.3 Per 149.3 - 161.0 Aur 161.0 - 180.5 Tau 180.5 - 186.7 Gem 186.7 - 188.7 Ori 188.7 - 199.0 Gem 199.0 - 199.5 Mon 199.5 - 225.6 CMa 225.6 - 232.2 Pup 232.2 - 257.0 Vel 257.0 - 283.6 Car 283.6 - 292.1 Cen 292.1 - 296.5 Cru 296.5 - 303.7 Cen 303.7 - 316.3 Cir 316.3 - 323.5 Nor 323.5 - 336.8 Ara 336.8 - 339.4 Sco 339.4 - 358.7 Oph 358.7 - 359.3 Sgr 359.3 - 360.0
A number of constellations are entered twice, as their boundaries have edges. Some are merely touched by a short piece of the Galactic Equator (e.g. Ophiuchus), others (like Cygnus or Cassiopeia) contain long parts of it.


Hartmut Frommert
Christine Kronberg
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Last Modification: August 20, 2001