Triangulum - Definition and Overview

For the southern constellation, see Triangulum Australe.

Triangulum
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Right ascension	?????? h
Declination	−??????°
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Number of stars (magnitude < 3)	??????
Brightest star	β ?????? (App. magnitude 3.00)
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Bordering constellations	?????? ??????
Visible at latitudes between +??????° and −??????° Best visible during the month of ??????

Triangulum is a small northern constellation whose three brightest stars, of third and fourth magnitude, form an elongated triangle. It is one of the 88 modern constellations, and also one of the 48 listed by Ptolemy.

Notable features

Triangulum has no stars of the first magnitude. Its brightest stars are β (magnitude 3.00) and α (magnitude 3.41).

Notable deep sky objects

Triangulum is the location of the Triangulum Galaxy, M33, one of the members of the Local Group. It is 3 million light years away, and at magnitude 5.8 is sufficiently bright that it can be glimpsed with the naked eye under dark skies.

History and mythology

An early name of the constellation was Sicilia, because Ceres, patron goddess of Sicily, was claimed to have begged Jupiter that the island be placed in the heavens.

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See Also