Are galaxies part of constellations?

[wutronic]

reading up on the local group and in the wiki it says galaxies have constellations: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Local_Group

does this mean they are just in that area, or they are visible from Earth as part of the constellation? I thought Andromida and possibly only Canis major dwarf were visible from earth?

 

[Simon Bridge]

Welcome to PF;
Technically, all the galaxies we know about are visible to us.

There are a number of galaxies visible to the naked eye ... here is a list:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_galaxies#Naked-eye_galaxies

Other galaxies are visible using telescopes of one kind or another.

On the page you link to, the entry headed "constellation" refers to the constellation that the galaxy appears in.
It's a handy note to help astronomers find it. For instance, the center of the Milky Way is in the direction of the constellation of Sagittarius.

Note: technically a constellation is a region of the sky ... so galaxies are not part of the constellation but they can be found within it's boundaries.
http://www.iau.org/public/themes/constellations/

 

[davenn]

hi there
welcome to PF

reading up on the local group and in the wiki it says galaxies have constellations: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Local_Group

I didn't see that written anywhere in that link

do you know what a constellation is ?
when you discover that using google, you will then know the answer to your question

does this mean they are just in that area, or they are visible from Earth as part of the constellation?

now you are changing tact and getting to the real meaning
I still want you to google what is a constellation

Galaxies are visible all over the sky, some are bright and easily seen in a small telescope
lots are very faint and require a larger scope to see them
100's of millions of them are extremely faint and require the biggest telescopes to see them

There are only 4 galaxies easily visible with the naked eye ... our Milky Way galaxy, the LMC and SMC ( satellite galaxies to the Milky Way)
and the Andromeda Galaxy

There seems to be a lot of argument over if the so called Canis Major Dwarf Galaxy is really a galaxy

Dave

 

[wutronic]

hi there
welcome to PF




I didn't see that written anywhere in that link

do you know what a constellation is ?
when you discover that using google, you will then know the answer to your question



now you are changing tact and getting to the real meaning
I still want you to google what is a constellation

Galaxies are visible all over the sky, some are bright and easily seen in a small telescope
lots are very faint and require a larger scope to see them
100's of millions of them are extremely faint and require the biggest telescopes to see them

There are only 4 galaxies easily visible with the naked eye ... our Milky Way galaxy, the LMC and SMC ( satellite galaxies to the Milky Way)
and the Andromeda Galaxy

There seems to be a lot of argument over if the so called Canis Major Dwarf Galaxy is really a galaxy

Dave

Thanks for the reply :) Yeah I have, and I read all about it. However, a lot of constellations were named and observed long before telescopes so I wasn't sure if some galaxies appeared as blobs or what looked like stars. Also, I am not sure that LMC and SMC are visible by naked eye after reading about it, seems only parts of our Milky Way and andromeda are visible, no?

 

[wutronic]

Welcome to PF;
Technically, all the galaxies we know about are visible to us.

There are a number of galaxies visible to the naked eye ... here is a list:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_galaxies#Naked-eye_galaxies

Other galaxies are visible using telescopes of one kind or another.

On the page you link to, the entry headed "constellation" refers to the constellation that the galaxy appears in.
It's a handy note to help astronomers find it. For instance, the center of the Milky Way is in the direction of the constellation of Sagittarius.

Note: technically a constellation is a region of the sky ... so galaxies are not part of the constellation but they can be found within it's boundaries.
http://www.iau.org/public/themes/constellations/

ah, this makes sense. Thanks!

 

[Simon Bridge]

...a lot of constellations were named and observed long before telescopes so I wasn't sure if some galaxies appeared as blobs or what looked like stars.

The Andromeda Galaxy used to be called "The Great Andromeda Nebula".

Note:
"Andromeda" is the constellation (or the daughter of Cepheus and Cassiopeia.). You can usually tell which is meant by context, but you should be aware of the distinction.

 

[davenn]

Also, I am not sure that LMC and SMC are visible by naked eye after reading about it, seems only parts of our Milky Way and andromeda are visible, no?

incorrect ... the large and small clouds of Magellan are very easily visible with naked eye

Dave

 

[SteamKing]

incorrect ... the large and small clouds of Magellan are very easily visible with naked eye

Dave

At least, that's how they appeared to Magellan, but these were visible to the Polynesians and others (including Magellan) long before the invention of the telescope.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magellanic_Clouds