Constellations

The Deep Photographic Guide to the
Constellations

The constellation of the month
DECEMBER

Fornax

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Names:

Latin: Fornax (For)
English: Furnace Spanish: Horno
German: Ofen French: Fourneau

Shown is the elusive constellation of Fornax (see lines). The small pattern of three stars shows up with members of fourth to fifth magnitude only. Brightest star is alpha Fornacis at the eastern tip (left hand side at a visual magnitude of 3.95).

For mid northern latitude observers (central Europe or North America) Fornax might be visible low above the southern horizon just below the constellations of Cetus and the northern part of Eridanus. The declination ranges from -40 to -24 degrees. In mid of december Fornax culminates at about 9:00 pm local time.

Since Fornax is far away from the galactic plane it contains no bright galactic deep sky objects with the exception of one planetary nebula. But there is a big number of galaxies. Fornax is home of the nearby Fornax galaxy cluster (lower left of the image).

© all photographs taken by Till Credner and Sven Kohle