Lacerta constellation
Lacerta is a constellation of the northern sky. Its brightest star is α Lacertae. Visibility at mid-northern latitudes (52° N): never sets — visible all year round.
- Alwaysnever sets at 52° N
- α Lacertaebrightest star, magnitude 3.8
- LacLacerta
How to find the constellation Lacerta
A zigzag of faint stars between Cygnus and Cassiopeia.
Visible all year round; it is highest in the evening, around 22:00, in September, and half a year later at that time it is lowest, above the northern horizon.
| Location | Visibility |
|---|---|
| 40° NMadrid, New York, Beijing | rises and sets, fully visible |
| 52° NLondon, Berlin, Warsaw | never sets — visible all year round |
| 60° NOslo, Helsinki, Saint Petersburg | never sets — visible all year round |
Bright stars of the constellation
| Star | Magnitude | Color | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| α Lacertae | 3.8 | bluish white | — |
| 1 Lacertae | 4.1 | orange | — |
| 5 Lacertae | 4.3 | red | — |
| β Lacertae | 4.4 | orange | — |
| HIP 109754 | 4.5 | orange | — |
| 11 Lacertae | 4.5 | orange | — |
| 6 Lacertae | 4.5 | bluish white | — |
| 2 Lacertae | 4.5 | bluish white | — |
| 4 Lacertae | 4.5 | bluish white | — |
Magnitude is a measure of a star’s brightness: the smaller the number, the brighter the star; on a dark night the naked eye can see stars down to magnitude 6.
Questions
How do you find the constellation Lacerta in the sky?
A zigzag of faint stars between Cygnus and Cassiopeia.
When is the best time of year to observe the constellation Lacerta?
At mid-northern latitudes (52° N) Lacerta never sets and can be seen on any clear night. It is highest in the evening in autumn, in September.
What is the brightest star in the constellation Lacerta?
α Lacertae: magnitude 3.8, bluish white.
How many stars are there in the constellation Lacerta?
With the naked eye on a perfectly dark night — with no light pollution and no Moon — you can see about 36 stars in the constellation (brighter than magnitude 6, within the constellation’s boundaries). In a city far fewer: usually only the stars of its figure.