The Reticulum constellation is not well known or known at all by some.
This interesting celestial body is one that there is plenty we know and plenty left to learn about.
Take a look at the facts about the Reticulum constellation and why it is one of the 88 modern constellations found in the night sky.
Reticulum Constellation Facts, Myth, Location and Stars
Take a moment and get to know this smaller constellation.
Find out about a set of stars that are not discussed as much, though very much an important part of the sky above us, and the breakdown of the night sky into manageable portions.
Reticulum Constellation Size
The reticulum is a very small constellation in the sky.
It sits in the southern part and is so very small when compared to other celestial bodies.
It ranks 82nd of the 88 constellations that make up the modern night sky and have been classified by the IAU or the International Astronomical Unit.
It measures up at a mere 114 square degrees. Appropriately, its name is Latin for the small net, and it is indeed very small.
Reticulum Constellation Mythology
This star shape has a less mythological origin, and was not part of the 48 constellations that were originally classified by Ptolemy, though, obviously, it is a part of the 88 modern constellations.
There are no stories of heroism or grad beasts with this constellation, just a German man, Hebrecht, who in 1621 located it and included it on his star map.
It was seen by others and eventually made its way onto the modern map of the nighttime sky.
The name is meant to represent the part of the eyepiece of the telescope that was almost net-like in appearance.
Reticulum Constellation Location
The reticulum is found in the southern sky.
It is located in the quadrant known as SQ1 or the first quadrant in the southern celestial hemisphere. It less between positive 23 degrees and negative 90 degrees and has the pleasure to be the neighbor of the constellations Hydrus, Horologium, and Dorado.
It belongs to the Lacaille group of constellations and is not associated with mythology or any signs of the zodiac, making it a bit unique, as there are 48 constellations identified by Ptolemy that are associated with one or another of those things.
Stars Reticulum Constellation Contains
This smaller constellation has five main stars that are recognized to be the main stars of the constellation.
There are 23 stars recognized as a part of the smaller celestial body altogether though.
Five of the stars have been identified to have planets around them and there is only one named star, known as Tupi.
The brightest star in the constellation is known as Alpha Reticule named such due to the constellation containing it and its brightness of it in comparison with the surrounding stars.
How to Identify The Reticulum Constellation
This constellation is a bit harder to identify than some as it is mainly a rhombus shape in the sky.
If you can, check the southern sky in quadrant one, and you have the chance to find it.
It is found to be 4 hours right of ascension and 60 degrees south in declination.
This means that the constellation is rarely seen in the Northern Hemisphere and if it does appear it is faintly found on the horizon for a short period at night.
Celestial Bodies In The Reticulum Constellation
There are not many other celestial bodies to be found within the boundaries of this small constellation, but there are two that you should take note of.
There is the Barred Spiral Galaxy and then there is the Topsy Turvey Galaxy.
The Barred Spiral Galaxy is unique in that it is surrounding a central bar-shaped Colum of stars that are clustered fairly close together.
The Topsy Turvey galaxy is rare and interesting.
Topsy Turvey is also a sort of barred spiral but the reason it has this name is due to the highly active nature of the bodies within it.
There are several visible areas here that are actively in the process of creating brand-new stars and Nebulae from what we consider to be a cocoon of gaseous dust and matter.
Truly the perfect storm for new celestial beginnings.
This galaxy is bringing with it a whole boatload of information about the way that planets and other heavenly formations turn into the things we can see and identify today.
This formation is particularly beautiful with an abundance of very hot clusters of stars that appear in all kinds of vivid colors and brightness.
Some are even green, a rare color for a star to present with.
This is mainly due to the heat and pressure, but one day we may come to find out that there is some other process taking place here.
Reticulum Constellation Celestial Events
Though the reticulum is not the location of any meteor showers or comets rushing past, it is interesting because of the binary star that is identified as the Epsilon reticulii.
It is considered a very other binary star and as such has been floating around the universe for some time, so much so that there is barely any heat signature from the binary companion that seems to have gone supernova quite a long time ago, even when speaking in the terms of the time of the universe it is old.
This makes for an interesting study as to why it is here, in a small area that can often be overlooked.
Wrap Up
The constellation reticulum may not be the most well-known constellation you may not have even heard of it until you read this article, but it is an interesting one for sure.
With the inclusion of dynamic celestial bodies and the origins of its establishment being so very different from many of the ancient bodies in the heavens.
The reticulum could hold our attention for quite some time as the constellation itself has the unknown potential for growth and change as time moves forward.
Enjoy the awesome view!
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