Monoceros is a relatively inconspicuous constellation south of the celestial equator. It is west of prominent Orion and north of bright star Sirius in Canis Major. It contains only two stars brighter than 4th magnitude.
The ribbon of the Milky Way runs through Monoceros, so it contains a number of nebulous objects, such as the open star cluster M50 and the Rosette Nebula.
| Monoceros | |
|---|---|
| Latin name | Monoceros |
| Latin genitive | Monocerotis |
| Abbreviation | Mon |
| Brightest star | β Monocerotis |
| Fully visible | 75° N to 85° S |
| Observation time for Central Europe | September – April |
