The Lizard
| Abbreviation: | Lac |
| Genitive: | Lacertae |
| Origin: | Johannes Hevelius, 1690 |
| Fully Visible: | 33°S – 90°N |
German/Polish astronomer Johannes Hevelius (1611–1687) created this constellation in the late seventeenth century. It was extended northward slightly by English astronomer and first Astronomer Royal, John Flamsteed (1646–1719), to include stars that are now labelled α Lac and β Lac.
Notable Features
| Visible Named Stars | ||
|---|---|---|
| α Lac | Stellio | This name honours the early name of the constellation Lacerta sive Stellio. |
| V424 Lac | Tengshe | This fifth-magnitude red supergiant lies close to the border with Andromeda. |
| Other Interesting Stars | ||
| HAT‑P‑40 | Taika | This twelfth-magnitude star is known to have at least one exoplanet. It is located just south of the line connecting 2 Lac and 6 Lac. |
| Deep Sky Objects | ||
| C16 | C16 is an open cluster that is just below naked-eye visibility but binoculars or a small telescope will reveal it. It is better known by its New General Catalogue designation NCG 7243. | |
Copyright © 1995–2025 by L.M. Stockman and David Harper