Lynx Constellation: The Ultimate Guide

Lynx is a relatively new constellation, as there are no historical records on any celestial, manuscript, or ancient map.

Within the limits of the constellation, there are no stars of magnitude greater than 3; for this reason, it also has no associated histories or ancient myths.

In the seventeenth century, the first to introduce the constellation Lynx on a celestial map was the Polish astronomer Johannes Hevelius.

Johannes introduced this constellation with the sole purpose of filling the gap that existed between the constellations Ursa Major and Auriga.

The name "Lynx" is because Johannes mentioned it was such a faint constellation that only those astronomers with lynx eyes could see it with the naked eye.

Lynx is one of the faintest constellations and challenging to see by amateur astronomers. In cities with more significant light pollution, it is only possible to see it with a telescope.

In scientific research, Lynx is a region of studies on the evolution of stars because it contains a significant globular cluster called NGC 2419.

The constellation Lynx resides in the second quadrant of the Northern Hemisphere (NQ2), at latitudes between 55° S and 90° N, which means we can see the constellation in the night sky in every country in the world except Antarctica.

The north hemispherical Lynx is visible in the USA, Europe, Russia, China, or Japan.

Lynx is visible in all the southern hemisphere countries; the only region not visible is Antarctica.

The location of the constellation Lynx is found in the northern celestial hemisphere.

In the northern hemisphere, it is visible during spring, and in the southern hemisphere, it is visible during autumn.

For the southern hemisphere countries, a part of the constellation ceases to be visible in spring. The best month to see the lynx build is in March.

To locate the constellation Lynx, you must look north of the celestial vault.

Lynx is a medium-sized but faint constellation; it is almost impossible to see in skies with light pollution without a telescope.

The best way to locate it is by drawing an imaginary straight line from Gemini's constellation to Ursa Major's constellation. Lynx sits right in the middle of the two like a fuzzy line of faint stars.

The bordering constellations of Lynx are Auriga, Camelopardalis, Cancer, Gemini, Leo, Leo Minor, and Ursa Major.

Lynx also belongs to the Ursa Major family of constellations; these include the constellations Boötes, Camelopardalis, Canes Venatici, Coma Berenices, Corona Borealis, Draco, Leo Minor, Ursa Major, and Ursa Minor.

Lynx officially has 97 stars, of which 8 are part of the central figure of the constellation; these are Alpha Lyncis, 38 Lyncis, Alsciaukat, 2 Lyncis, HD77912, 10 Ursae Majoris, 21 Lyncis, and 15 Lyncis.

Located 222 light-years from the solar system, Alpha Lyncis is the brightest star in the constellation Lynx with a visual magnitude of 3.14. It is an orange star giant of spectral type K7IIIvar.

It is the second brightest star in the Lynx at magnitude 3.82. It is multiple white stars located at a distance of 122 light-years.

Although its name says "Ursae Majoris," 10 Ursae Majoris does not belong to Ursa Major's constellation.

It is currently encompassed within the constellation Lynx and is the third brightest star with a magnitude of 3.97.

Lynx is a small constellation; because of that, it has very few deep sky bodies. Most are still in the study phase and are very dim. Only the most powerful telescopes can study them.

The only two bodies of deep-sky in Lynx that the International Astronomical Union officially recognizes are:

• Globular cluster NGC 2419: Con magnitude 10.4. It is one of the most distant known globular clusters in our galaxy, hence its other name, "Intergalactic Traveler," as many astronomers believed it was outside the Milky Way.
• NGC 2537 (Arp 6): Blue compact dwarf galaxy. Due to its peculiar appearance, it is by the nickname "bear claw galaxy."
• NGC 2683: Spiral galaxy Informally called "UFO Galaxy" because it resembled a flying saucer.
• NGC 2770: Spiral galaxy lies 88 million light-years away.
• IC 2233: It's a Spiral galaxy of 40 million light-years from the Milky Way.
• APM 08279+5255: Es a quasar within a giant elliptical galaxy with a supermassive black hole about 23 billion times more massive than the Sun.
• LynxArc: It is the hottest known star-birth region in the Universe, located 12 billion light-years away and a million times brighter than the Orion Nebula.

The constellation Lynx has an associated meteor shower called "Lyncids."

The Lyncids meteor shower occurs between January 25 to May 15, and the peak of maximum observation occurs on March 7.

• Lynx is a constellation of the northern celestial hemisphere; The astronomer Johannes Hevelius introduced the name of the constellation, who stated that only the eyes of Lynx (those with good eyesight) could see this constellation.
• Although it is in the Northern Hemisphere, Lynx see from every country in the world, the only exception being Antarctica.
• The best month to see the constellation Lynx is in March.
• Lynx's brightest star is Alpha Lyncis (α Lyn / 40 Lyncis), with an apparent magnitude of 3.14.
• The best way to locate the constellation Lynx is by drawing an imaginary straight line from the constellation Gemini to the constellation Ursa Major. Lynx sits right in the middle of the two like a fuzzy line of faint stars.
• Lynx's most notable deep sky body is Lynx Arc.
• The heaviest meteor shower in Lynx is the Lyncids.

1. https://www.constellation-guide.com/constellation-list/lynx-constellation/
2. http://www.seasky.org/constellations/constellation-lynx.html
3. https://www.britannica.com/place/Lynx-constellation
4. https://theskylive.com/sky/constellations/lynx-constellation