Microscopium

Microscopium
Constellation
Microscopium
AbbreviationMic
GenitiveMicroscopii
Pronunciation/ˌmkrəˈskɒpiəm/, genitive /ˌmkrəˈskɒpi/
Symbolismthe Microscope
Right ascension21h
Declination−36°
QuadrantSQ4
Area210 sq. deg. (66th)
Main stars5
Bayer/Flamsteed
stars
13
Stars with planets2
Stars brighter than 3.00m0
Stars within 10.00 pc (32.62 ly)2
Brightest starγ Mic (4.67m)
Messier objects0
Meteor showersMicroscopids
Bordering
constellations
Visible at latitudes between +45° and −90°.
Best visible at 21:00 (9 p.m.) during the month of September.

Microscopium ("the Microscope") is a minor constellation in the southern celestial hemisphere, one of twelve created in the 18th century by French astronomer Nicolas-Louis de Lacaille and one of several depicting scientific instruments. The name is a Latinised form of the Greek word for microscope. Its stars are faint and hardly visible from most of the non-tropical Northern Hemisphere.

The constellation's brightest star is Gamma Microscopii of apparent magnitude 4.68, a yellow giant 2.5 times the Sun's mass located 223 ± 8 light-years distant. It passed within 1.14 and 3.45 light-years of the Sun some 3.9 million years ago, possibly disturbing the outer Solar System. Three star systems—WASP-7, AU Microscopii and HD 205739—have been determined to have planets, while other star —the Sun-like star HD 202628— has a debris disk. AU Microscopii and the binary red dwarf system AT Microscopii are probably a wide triple system and members of the Beta Pictoris moving group. Nicknamed "Speedy Mic", BO Microscopii is a star with an extremely fast rotation period of 9 hours, 7 minutes.