15Coma Berenices, Berenice’s Hair

NAME: Coma Berenices (KOE-muh BAIR-uh-NEES-us)

SEASON: Spring

CULMINATION: midnight, 2 April

ABBREVIATION: Com

GENITIVE: Comae Berenices (KOE-meye BAIR-uh-NEES-us)

NEIGHBORS: Boo, CVn, Leo, UMa, Vir

BINOCULAR OBJECTS: NGC 4254 (M 99), NGC 4321 (M 100), Mel 111, NGC 4382 (M 85), NGC 4501

(M 88), NGC 4826 (M 64), NGC 5024 (M 53)

URBAN OBJECTS: Mel 111, NGC 4826 (M 64)

Coma Berenices is an inconspicuous, mid-size constellation, ranking 42nd in size among the 88 constellations. It covers 386 square degrees of the celestial sphere, or about 0.9%. Coma—most astronomers drop the “Berenices” part in casual conversation—occupies the center of the box defined by 0th magnitude Arcturus in Boötes, 2nd magnitude Denebola ...

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