Constellation · Mon
Monoceros
The Unicorn
A faint constellation in the winter Milky Way between Orion and Canis Major, containing the Rosette Nebula.
Magnitude 3.76
Highest in the sky at 9 pm local time (winter in the northern hemisphere)
Latitudes where every part of it rises above the horizon at some time of year
The whole sky covers about 41,253 square degrees
Stars brighter than about magnitude 6, the naked-eye limit under dark skies
Can you see Monoceros from where you live?
This depends only on your latitude. Pick the row nearest to you; for your exact sky tonight, use the sky map.
| Latitude | Monoceros |
|---|---|
| 60°N | The whole constellation rises and sets |
| 40°N | The whole constellation rises and sets |
| 20°N | The whole constellation rises and sets |
| the equator | The whole constellation rises and sets |
| 20°S | The whole constellation rises and sets |
| 40°S | The whole constellation rises and sets |
| 60°S | The whole constellation rises and sets |
Questions about Monoceros
When is Monoceros best seen?
Monoceros stands highest in the sky at 9 pm local time in February. That makes winter evenings the best time for observers in the northern hemisphere; in the southern hemisphere the season is reversed.
What is the brightest star in Monoceros?
The brightest star in Monoceros is Beta Monocerotis, magnitude 3.76.
Where on Earth can you see Monoceros?
The whole of Monoceros can be seen from latitudes between about 78°S and 79°N. From 40°N: The whole constellation rises and sets. From 35°S: The whole constellation rises and sets.
What does Monoceros mean?
Monoceros is Latin for "the Unicorn". Added by European astronomers in the 1500s and early 1600s.