[{"id":"sun","kind":"sun","name":"Sun","ref":"sun","summary":"Our own star, the source of all daylight. Never look at it directly, and never through binoculars or a telescope.","mag":-26.7,"facts":[{"label":"Diameter","value":"1,391,400 km, about 109 times the Earth’s"},{"label":"Mass","value":"332,900 times the Earth’s"},{"label":"Temperature of its surface","value":"5,772 kelvin, about 5,500 °C"},{"label":"Distance from the Earth","value":"149.6 million km on average"},{"label":"Its light reaches us in","value":"8 minutes 19 seconds"}],"sources":["NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, NSSDCA fact sheets"],"what":"Our star"},
{"id":"moon","kind":"moon","name":"Moon","ref":"moon","summary":"The Earth’s only natural satellite, which always turns the same face towards us as it goes through its phases.","mag":-12.7,"facts":[{"label":"Diameter","value":"3,475 km, a little over a quarter of the Earth’s"},{"label":"Distance from the Earth","value":"384,400 km on average"},{"label":"Goes once around the Earth in","value":"27.3 days"},{"label":"From one full Moon to the next","value":"29.53 days"},{"label":"Mass","value":"1.2 % of the Earth’s"},{"label":"Brightness when full","value":"Magnitude −12.74"}],"sources":["NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, NSSDCA fact sheets"],"what":"The Earth’s moon"},
{"id":"mercury","kind":"planet","name":"Mercury","ref":"mercury","summary":"The smallest planet and the closest to the Sun, seen only low in the twilight and never far from the Sun.","facts":[{"label":"Diameter","value":"4,879 km"},{"label":"Distance from the Sun","value":"57.9 million km on average"},{"label":"A year there lasts","value":"88.0 Earth days"},{"label":"A day there, from noon to noon","value":"4,223 hours, about 176 Earth days"},{"label":"Average temperature","value":"167 °C"},{"label":"Known moons","value":"None"}],"sources":["NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, NSSDCA fact sheets"],"what":"The planet closest to the Sun"},
{"id":"venus","kind":"planet","name":"Venus","ref":"venus","summary":"The brightest thing in the night sky after the Moon, wrapped in thick clouds that trap the heat and make it the hottest planet.","facts":[{"label":"Diameter","value":"12,104 km"},{"label":"Distance from the Sun","value":"108.2 million km on average"},{"label":"A year there lasts","value":"224.7 Earth days"},{"label":"A day there, from noon to noon","value":"2,802 hours, about 117 Earth days"},{"label":"Average temperature","value":"464 °C"},{"label":"Known moons","value":"None"}],"sources":["NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, NSSDCA fact sheets"],"what":"The second planet from the Sun"},
{"id":"mars","kind":"planet","name":"Mars","ref":"mars","summary":"The red planet, coloured by iron-rich dust, at its brightest when the Earth passes it about every two years.","facts":[{"label":"Diameter","value":"6,792 km"},{"label":"Distance from the Sun","value":"228.0 million km on average"},{"label":"A year there lasts","value":"687.0 Earth days"},{"label":"A day there, from noon to noon","value":"24.7 hours"},{"label":"Average temperature","value":"−65 °C"},{"label":"Known moons","value":"2"}],"sources":["NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, NSSDCA fact sheets"],"what":"The fourth planet from the Sun"},
{"id":"jupiter","kind":"planet","name":"Jupiter","ref":"jupiter","summary":"The largest planet, a giant of gas whose four biggest moons show in steady binoculars as points of light in a line.","facts":[{"label":"Diameter","value":"142,984 km"},{"label":"Distance from the Sun","value":"778.5 million km on average"},{"label":"A year there lasts","value":"4,331 Earth days, about 11.9 years"},{"label":"A day there, from noon to noon","value":"9.9 hours"},{"label":"Average temperature","value":"−110 °C"},{"label":"Known moons","value":"95, and a system of rings"}],"sources":["NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, NSSDCA fact sheets"],"what":"The largest planet"},
{"id":"saturn","kind":"planet","name":"Saturn","ref":"saturn","summary":"The ringed planet. A small telescope shows the rings, and its largest moon, Titan, is bigger than the planet Mercury.","facts":[{"label":"Diameter","value":"120,536 km"},{"label":"Distance from the Sun","value":"1,432.0 million km on average"},{"label":"A year there lasts","value":"10,747 Earth days, about 29.4 years"},{"label":"A day there, from noon to noon","value":"10.7 hours"},{"label":"Average temperature","value":"−140 °C"},{"label":"Known moons","value":"274, and a system of rings"}],"sources":["NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, NSSDCA fact sheets"],"what":"The ringed planet"},
{"id":"uranus","kind":"planet","name":"Uranus","ref":"uranus","summary":"An ice giant tipped on its side, just visible to the eye from a very dark site if you know exactly where to look.","facts":[{"label":"Diameter","value":"51,118 km"},{"label":"Distance from the Sun","value":"2,867.0 million km on average"},{"label":"A year there lasts","value":"30,589 Earth days, about 83.7 years"},{"label":"A day there, from noon to noon","value":"17.2 hours"},{"label":"Average temperature","value":"−195 °C"},{"label":"Known moons","value":"28, and a system of rings"}],"sources":["NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, NSSDCA fact sheets"],"what":"The seventh planet from the Sun"},
{"id":"neptune","kind":"planet","name":"Neptune","ref":"neptune","summary":"The farthest planet from the Sun, an ice giant too faint to see without binoculars or a telescope.","facts":[{"label":"Diameter","value":"49,528 km"},{"label":"Distance from the Sun","value":"4,515.0 million km on average"},{"label":"A year there lasts","value":"59,800 Earth days, about 163.7 years"},{"label":"A day there, from noon to noon","value":"16.1 hours"},{"label":"Average temperature","value":"−200 °C"},{"label":"Known moons","value":"16, and a system of rings"}],"sources":["NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, NSSDCA fact sheets"],"what":"The farthest planet from the Sun"},
{"id":"sirius","kind":"star","name":"Sirius","ref":32349,"summary":"The brightest star in the night sky, a hot white star with a faint white dwarf beside it.","ra":101.2872,"dec":-16.7161,"mag":-1.44,"con":"CMa","bv":0.01,"facts":[{"label":"Brightness","value":"Magnitude −1.44, the brightest star in the night sky"},{"label":"Distance","value":"8.6 light years"},{"label":"Kind of star","value":"White star, spectral type A0"},{"label":"Light it gives out","value":"About 23 times the Sun’s, in visible light"},{"label":"Constellation","value":"Canis Major, where it is α Canis Majoris"},{"label":"Catalogue number","value":"HIP 32349"}],"sources":["HYG database 4.1 (Hipparcos, Yale Bright Star and Gliese catalogues), CC BY-SA 4.0"],"near":[["m41",4],["m47",12.6],["adhara",12.6],["orion-nebula",20.5],["alnitak",21.7]],"what":"A white star in Canis Major"},
{"id":"canopus","kind":"star","name":"Canopus","ref":30438,"summary":"The second brightest star in the night sky, a white giant that spacecraft have long used to keep their bearings.","ra":95.9879,"dec":-52.6957,"mag":-0.62,"con":"Car","bv":0.16,"facts":[{"label":"Brightness","value":"Magnitude −0.62, the 2nd brightest star in the night sky"},{"label":"Distance","value":"309 light years"},{"label":"Kind of star","value":"Yellow-white supergiant, spectral type F0 Ib"},{"label":"Light it gives out","value":"About 14,000 times the Sun’s, in visible light"},{"label":"Constellation","value":"Carina, where it is α Carinae"},{"label":"Catalogue number","value":"HIP 30438"}],"sources":["HYG database 4.1 (Hipparcos, Yale Bright Star and Gliese catalogues), CC BY-SA 4.0"],"near":[["large-magellanic-cloud",18.4],["adhara",24.6],["m41",32.2],["southern-pleiades",34],["carina-nebula",35.4]],"what":"A yellow-white supergiant in Carina"},
{"id":"rigil-kentaurus","kind":"star","name":"Rigil Kentaurus","ref":71683,"summary":"The bright star of Alpha Centauri, the nearest star system to the Sun: two stars like the Sun that look like one to the eye.","ra":219.9115,"dec":-60.834,"mag":-0.01,"con":"Cen","bv":0.71,"facts":[{"label":"Brightness","value":"Magnitude −0.01, the 4th brightest star in the night sky"},{"label":"Distance","value":"4.3 light years"},{"label":"Kind of star","value":"Yellow main-sequence star, spectral type G2 V"},{"label":"Light it gives out","value":"About 1.5 times the Sun’s, in visible light"},{"label":"Constellation","value":"Centaurus, where it is α Centauri"},{"label":"Catalogue number","value":"HIP 71683"}],"sources":["HYG database 4.1 (Hipparcos, Yale Bright Star and Gliese catalogues), CC BY-SA 4.0"],"near":[["hadar",4.4],["jewel-box",12.9],["mimosa",13.8],["acrux",15.6],["gacrux",16.8]],"what":"A yellow main-sequence star in Centaurus"},
{"id":"arcturus","kind":"star","name":"Arcturus","ref":69673,"summary":"The brightest star in the northern half of the sky, an orange giant late in its life.","ra":213.9154,"dec":19.1824,"mag":-0.05,"con":"Boo","bv":1.24,"facts":[{"label":"Brightness","value":"Magnitude −0.05, the 3rd brightest star in the night sky"},{"label":"Distance","value":"37 light years"},{"label":"Kind of star","value":"Orange giant, spectral type K2 III"},{"label":"Light it gives out","value":"About 120 times the Sun’s, in visible light"},{"label":"Constellation","value":"Boötes, where it is α Boötis"},{"label":"Catalogue number","value":"HIP 69673"}],"sources":["HYG database 4.1 (Hipparcos, Yale Bright Star and Gliese catalogues), CC BY-SA 4.0"],"near":[["m3",12],["black-eye-galaxy",18.6],["m5",23],["virgo-a",26.1],["coma-star-cluster",26.4]],"what":"An orange giant in Boötes"},
{"id":"vega","kind":"star","name":"Vega","ref":91262,"summary":"A bright blue-white star, high on summer nights in the north, long used as the zero point of the scale of star brightness.","ra":279.2346,"dec":38.7837,"mag":0.03,"con":"Lyr","bv":0,"facts":[{"label":"Brightness","value":"Magnitude 0.03, the 5th brightest star in the night sky"},{"label":"Distance","value":"25 light years"},{"label":"Kind of star","value":"White main-sequence star, spectral type A0 V"},{"label":"Light it gives out","value":"About 50 times the Sun’s, in visible light"},{"label":"Constellation","value":"Lyra, where it is α Lyrae"},{"label":"Catalogue number","value":"HIP 91262"}],"sources":["HYG database 4.1 (Hipparcos, Yale Bright Star and Gliese catalogues), CC BY-SA 4.0"],"near":[["ring-nebula",6.7],["albireo",15.6],["m92",15.6],["hercules-globular-cluster",22.8],["dumbbell-nebula",23.8]],"what":"A white main-sequence star in Lyra"},
{"id":"capella","kind":"star","name":"Capella","ref":24608,"summary":"A yellow star whose light comes mostly from two giant stars orbiting close together, high on winter nights in the north.","ra":79.1723,"dec":45.998,"mag":0.08,"con":"Aur","bv":0.8,"facts":[{"label":"Brightness","value":"Magnitude 0.08, the 6th brightest star in the night sky"},{"label":"Distance","value":"43 light years"},{"label":"Light it gives out","value":"About 140 times the Sun’s, in visible light"},{"label":"Constellation","value":"Auriga, where it is α Aurigae"},{"label":"Catalogue number","value":"HIP 24608"}],"sources":["HYG database 4.1 (Hipparcos, Yale Bright Star and Gliese catalogues), CC BY-SA 4.0"],"near":[["m38",10.4],["m36",12.4],["m37",15.1],["elnath",17.5],["mirfak",19.1]],"what":"A bright star in Auriga"},
{"id":"rigel","kind":"star","name":"Rigel","ref":24436,"summary":"A blue-white supergiant at the foot of Orion, one of the most luminous stars you can see with the eye.","ra":78.6345,"dec":-8.2016,"mag":0.18,"con":"Ori","bv":-0.03,"facts":[{"label":"Brightness","value":"Magnitude 0.18, the 7th brightest star in the night sky"},{"label":"Distance","value":"863 light years"},{"label":"Kind of star","value":"Blue-white supergiant, spectral type B8 Ia"},{"label":"Light it gives out","value":"About 52,000 times the Sun’s, in visible light"},{"label":"Constellation","value":"Orion, where it is β Orionis"},{"label":"Catalogue number","value":"HIP 24436"}],"sources":["HYG database 4.1 (Hipparcos, Yale Bright Star and Gliese catalogues), CC BY-SA 4.0"],"near":[["orion-nebula",5.9],["alnilam",8.8],["mintaka",9],["alnitak",9],["bellatrix",14.8]],"what":"A blue-white supergiant in Orion"},
{"id":"procyon","kind":"star","name":"Procyon","ref":37279,"summary":"The brightest star of the Little Dog, close to the Sun, with a faint white dwarf beside it.","ra":114.8255,"dec":5.225,"mag":0.4,"con":"CMi","bv":0.43,"facts":[{"label":"Brightness","value":"Magnitude 0.4, the 8th brightest star in the night sky"},{"label":"Distance","value":"11.5 light years"},{"label":"Kind of star","value":"Yellow-white subgiant, spectral type F5 IV-V"},{"label":"Light it gives out","value":"About 7.4 times the Sun’s, in visible light"},{"label":"Constellation","value":"Canis Minor, where it is α Canis Minoris"},{"label":"Catalogue number","value":"HIP 37279"}],"sources":["HYG database 4.1 (Hipparcos, Yale Bright Star and Gliese catalogues), CC BY-SA 4.0"],"near":[["m47",19.7],["beehive-cluster",20.7],["pollux",22.8],["sirius",25.7],["betelgeuse",26]],"what":"A yellow-white subgiant in Canis Minor"},
{"id":"achernar","kind":"star","name":"Achernar","ref":7588,"summary":"A hot blue star spinning so fast that it is flattened, at the end of the river Eridanus.","ra":24.4283,"dec":-57.2368,"mag":0.45,"con":"Eri","bv":-0.16,"facts":[{"label":"Brightness","value":"Magnitude 0.45, the 9th brightest star in the night sky"},{"label":"Distance","value":"139 light years"},{"label":"Kind of star","value":"Blue-white main-sequence star, spectral type B3 V"},{"label":"Light it gives out","value":"About 1,100 times the Sun’s, in visible light"},{"label":"Constellation","value":"Eridanus, where it is α Eridani"},{"label":"Catalogue number","value":"HIP 7588"}],"sources":["HYG database 4.1 (Hipparcos, Yale Bright Star and Gliese catalogues), CC BY-SA 4.0"],"near":[["small-magellanic-cloud",16.2],["47-tucanae",16.6],["large-magellanic-cloud",26.8],["sculptor-galaxy",33.2],["fomalhaut",39.1]],"what":"A blue-white main-sequence star in Eridanus"},
{"id":"betelgeuse","kind":"star","name":"Betelgeuse","ref":27989,"summary":"A red supergiant on Orion’s shoulder, so large that in place of the Sun it would reach past the orbit of Mars.","ra":88.7929,"dec":7.4071,"mag":0.45,"con":"Ori","bv":1.5,"facts":[{"label":"Brightness","value":"Magnitude 0.45, the 10th brightest star in the night sky"},{"label":"Distance","value":"498 light years"},{"label":"Kind of star","value":"Red supergiant, spectral type M2 Ib"},{"label":"Light it gives out","value":"About 13,000 times the Sun’s, in visible light"},{"label":"Constellation","value":"Orion, where it is α Orionis"},{"label":"Catalogue number","value":"HIP 27989"}],"sources":["HYG database 4.1 (Hipparcos, Yale Bright Star and Gliese catalogues), CC BY-SA 4.0"],"near":[["bellatrix",7.5],["mintaka",9.6],["alnilam",9.8],["alnitak",10],["orion-nebula",13.7]],"what":"A red supergiant in Orion"},
{"id":"hadar","kind":"star","name":"Hadar","ref":68702,"summary":"Beta Centauri, a blue giant that points with Alpha Centauri to the Southern Cross.","ra":210.9559,"dec":-60.373,"mag":0.61,"con":"Cen","bv":-0.23,"facts":[{"label":"Brightness","value":"Magnitude 0.61, the 11th brightest star in the night sky"},{"label":"Distance","value":"392 light years"},{"label":"Kind of star","value":"Blue-white giant, spectral type B1 III"},{"label":"Light it gives out","value":"About 7,200 times the Sun’s, in visible light"},{"label":"Constellation","value":"Centaurus, where it is β Centauri"},{"label":"Catalogue number","value":"HIP 68702"}],"sources":["HYG database 4.1 (Hipparcos, Yale Bright Star and Gliese catalogues), CC BY-SA 4.0"],"near":[["rigil-kentaurus",4.4],["jewel-box",8.7],["mimosa",9.5],["acrux",11.8],["gacrux",12.4]],"what":"A blue-white giant in Centaurus"},
{"id":"altair","kind":"star","name":"Altair","ref":97649,"summary":"A white star that spins so fast it bulges at its equator, one corner of the Summer Triangle.","ra":297.6958,"dec":8.8683,"mag":0.76,"con":"Aql","bv":0.22,"facts":[{"label":"Brightness","value":"Magnitude 0.76, the 12th brightest star in the night sky"},{"label":"Distance","value":"16.7 light years"},{"label":"Kind of star","value":"White subgiant, spectral type A7 IV-V"},{"label":"Light it gives out","value":"About 11 times the Sun’s, in visible light"},{"label":"Constellation","value":"Aquila, where it is α Aquilae"},{"label":"Catalogue number","value":"HIP 97649"}],"sources":["HYG database 4.1 (Hipparcos, Yale Bright Star and Gliese catalogues), CC BY-SA 4.0"],"near":[["dumbbell-nebula",14],["albireo",19.7],["wild-duck-cluster",21.2],["m15",24.6],["ring-nebula",27.5]],"what":"A white subgiant in Aquila"},
{"id":"acrux","kind":"star","name":"Acrux","ref":60718,"summary":"The brightest star of the Southern Cross, at its foot, a pair of hot blue stars.","ra":186.6497,"dec":-63.0991,"mag":0.77,"con":"Cru","bv":-0.24,"facts":[{"label":"Brightness","value":"Magnitude 0.77, the 13th brightest star in the night sky"},{"label":"Distance","value":"322 light years"},{"label":"Kind of star","value":"Blue-white subgiant, spectral type B0.5 IV"},{"label":"Light it gives out","value":"About 4,200 times the Sun’s, in visible light"},{"label":"Constellation","value":"Crux, where it is α Crux"},{"label":"Catalogue number","value":"HIP 60718"}],"sources":["HYG database 4.1 (Hipparcos, Yale Bright Star and Gliese catalogues), CC BY-SA 4.0"],"near":[["jewel-box",4.2],["mimosa",4.2],["gacrux",6],["southern-pleiades",11.5],["hadar",11.8]],"what":"A blue-white subgiant in Crux"},
{"id":"aldebaran","kind":"star","name":"Aldebaran","ref":21421,"summary":"The orange eye of Taurus the bull, a giant star that seems part of the Hyades cluster but is much closer to us.","ra":68.9802,"dec":16.5093,"mag":0.87,"con":"Tau","bv":1.54,"facts":[{"label":"Brightness","value":"Magnitude 0.87, the 14th brightest star in the night sky"},{"label":"Distance","value":"67 light years"},{"label":"Kind of star","value":"Orange giant, spectral type K5 III"},{"label":"Light it gives out","value":"About 160 times the Sun’s, in visible light"},{"label":"Constellation","value":"Taurus, where it is α Tauri"},{"label":"Catalogue number","value":"HIP 21421"}],"sources":["HYG database 4.1 (Hipparcos, Yale Bright Star and Gliese catalogues), CC BY-SA 4.0"],"near":[["hyades",2.3],["pleiades",13.7],["crab-nebula",14.9],["bellatrix",15.8],["elnath",16.8]],"what":"An orange giant in Taurus"},
{"id":"antares","kind":"star","name":"Antares","ref":80763,"summary":"A red supergiant at the heart of the Scorpion, whose name means the rival of Mars, for its colour.","ra":247.3519,"dec":-26.432,"mag":1.06,"con":"Sco","bv":1.86,"facts":[{"label":"Brightness","value":"Magnitude 1.06, the 17th brightest star in the night sky"},{"label":"Distance","value":"554 light years"},{"label":"Kind of star","value":"Red supergiant, spectral type M1 Ib"},{"label":"Light it gives out","value":"About 9,500 times the Sun’s, in visible light"},{"label":"Constellation","value":"Scorpius, where it is α Scorpii"},{"label":"Catalogue number","value":"HIP 80763"}],"sources":["HYG database 4.1 (Hipparcos, Yale Bright Star and Gliese catalogues), CC BY-SA 4.0"],"near":[["m4",1.3],["butterfly-cluster",16.5],["shaula",17.3],["ptolemys-cluster",19.9],["lagoon-nebula",21.4]],"what":"A red supergiant in Scorpius"},
{"id":"spica","kind":"star","name":"Spica","ref":65474,"summary":"The brightest star in Virgo: two hot blue stars so close together that each pulls the other into an egg shape.","ra":201.2982,"dec":-11.1613,"mag":0.98,"con":"Vir","bv":-0.23,"facts":[{"label":"Brightness","value":"Magnitude 0.98, the 16th brightest star in the night sky"},{"label":"Distance","value":"250 light years"},{"label":"Kind of star","value":"Blue-white main-sequence star, spectral type B1 V"},{"label":"Light it gives out","value":"About 2,100 times the Sun’s, in visible light"},{"label":"Constellation","value":"Virgo, where it is α Virginis"},{"label":"Catalogue number","value":"HIP 65474"}],"sources":["HYG database 4.1 (Hipparcos, Yale Bright Star and Gliese catalogues), CC BY-SA 4.0"],"near":[["sombrero-galaxy",11.1],["virgo-a",27.1],["m5",31.1],["centaurus-a",31.9],["arcturus",32.8]],"what":"A blue-white main-sequence star in Virgo"},
{"id":"pollux","kind":"star","name":"Pollux","ref":37826,"summary":"The brighter of the Gemini twins, an orange giant with a planet of its own.","ra":116.3292,"dec":28.0262,"mag":1.16,"con":"Gem","bv":0.99,"facts":[{"label":"Brightness","value":"Magnitude 1.16, the 18th brightest star in the night sky"},{"label":"Distance","value":"34 light years"},{"label":"Kind of star","value":"Orange giant, spectral type K0 III"},{"label":"Light it gives out","value":"About 32 times the Sun’s, in visible light"},{"label":"Constellation","value":"Gemini, where it is β Geminorum"},{"label":"Catalogue number","value":"HIP 37826"}],"sources":["HYG database 4.1 (Hipparcos, Yale Bright Star and Gliese catalogues), CC BY-SA 4.0"],"near":[["castor",4.5],["beehive-cluster",15.1],["m35",21.9],["procyon",22.8],["m37",24.7]],"what":"An orange giant in Gemini"},
{"id":"fomalhaut","kind":"star","name":"Fomalhaut","ref":113368,"summary":"A lone bright star in a part of the sky with few others, circled by a wide ring of dust.","ra":344.4126,"dec":-29.6222,"mag":1.17,"con":"PsA","bv":0.14,"facts":[{"label":"Brightness","value":"Magnitude 1.17, the 19th brightest star in the night sky"},{"label":"Distance","value":"25 light years"},{"label":"Kind of star","value":"White main-sequence star, spectral type A3 V"},{"label":"Light it gives out","value":"About 18 times the Sun’s, in visible light"},{"label":"Constellation","value":"Piscis Austrinus, where it is α Piscis Austrini"},{"label":"Catalogue number","value":"HIP 113368"}],"sources":["HYG database 4.1 (Hipparcos, Yale Bright Star and Gliese catalogues), CC BY-SA 4.0"],"near":[["sculptor-galaxy",24.7],["achernar",39.1],["47-tucanae",44],["small-magellanic-cloud",45.8],["m15",46.8]],"what":"A white main-sequence star in Piscis Austrinus"},
{"id":"deneb","kind":"star","name":"Deneb","ref":102098,"summary":"The tail of the Swan and a corner of the Summer Triangle, a white supergiant that shines brightly from very far away.","ra":310.358,"dec":45.2803,"mag":1.25,"con":"Cyg","bv":0.09,"facts":[{"label":"Brightness","value":"Magnitude 1.25, the 21st brightest star in the night sky"},{"label":"Distance","value":"About 2,600 light years, though nobody knows it well: it is too far for a sure parallax, and Hipparcos gives about 1,400"},{"label":"Kind of star","value":"White supergiant, spectral type A2 Ia"},{"label":"Light it gives out","value":"About 180,000 times the Sun’s, in visible light, if it is 2,600 light years away"},{"label":"Constellation","value":"Cygnus, where it is α Cygni"},{"label":"Catalogue number","value":"HIP 102098"}],"sources":["HYG database 4.1 (Hipparcos, Yale Bright Star and Gliese catalogues), CC BY-SA 4.0","Schiller and Przybilla 2008, “Quantitative spectroscopy of Deneb”, Astronomy & Astrophysics 479, 849 (802 ± 66 parsecs)"],"near":[["m39",9.2],["albireo",22.3],["vega",23.8],["ring-nebula",24.1],["dumbbell-nebula",24.1]],"what":"A white supergiant in Cygnus"},
{"id":"mimosa","kind":"star","name":"Mimosa","ref":62434,"summary":"Beta Crucis, the second brightest star of the Southern Cross, a hot blue giant.","ra":191.9304,"dec":-59.6888,"mag":1.25,"con":"Cru","bv":-0.24,"facts":[{"label":"Brightness","value":"Magnitude 1.25, the 20th brightest star in the night sky"},{"label":"Distance","value":"279 light years"},{"label":"Kind of star","value":"Blue-white giant, spectral type B0.5 III"},{"label":"Light it gives out","value":"About 2,000 times the Sun’s, in visible light"},{"label":"Constellation","value":"Crux, where it is β Crux"},{"label":"Catalogue number","value":"HIP 62434"}],"sources":["HYG database 4.1 (Hipparcos, Yale Bright Star and Gliese catalogues), CC BY-SA 4.0"],"near":[["jewel-box",1],["gacrux",3.4],["acrux",4.2],["hadar",9.5],["omega-centauri",13.5]],"what":"A blue-white giant in Crux"},
{"id":"regulus","kind":"star","name":"Regulus","ref":49669,"summary":"The heart of Leo, a blue-white star spinning so fast that it is close to flying apart.","ra":152.093,"dec":11.9672,"mag":1.36,"con":"Leo","bv":-0.09,"facts":[{"label":"Brightness","value":"Magnitude 1.36, the 23rd brightest star in the night sky"},{"label":"Distance","value":"79 light years"},{"label":"Kind of star","value":"Blue-white main-sequence star, spectral type B7 V"},{"label":"Light it gives out","value":"About 150 times the Sun’s, in visible light"},{"label":"Constellation","value":"Leo, where it is α Leonis"},{"label":"Catalogue number","value":"HIP 49669"}],"sources":["HYG database 4.1 (Hipparcos, Yale Bright Star and Gliese catalogues), CC BY-SA 4.0"],"near":[["beehive-cluster",22.5],["denebola",24.6],["virgo-a",34.8],["coma-star-cluster",35.1],["pollux",37]],"what":"A blue-white main-sequence star in Leo"},
{"id":"adhara","kind":"star","name":"Adhara","ref":33579,"summary":"The second brightest star of the Great Dog, a blue giant that was the brightest star in the sky a few million years ago.","ra":104.6565,"dec":-28.9721,"mag":1.5,"con":"CMa","bv":-0.21,"facts":[{"label":"Brightness","value":"Magnitude 1.5, the 24th brightest star in the night sky"},{"label":"Distance","value":"405 light years"},{"label":"Kind of star","value":"Blue-white bright giant, spectral type B2 II"},{"label":"Light it gives out","value":"About 3,400 times the Sun’s, in visible light"},{"label":"Constellation","value":"Canis Major, where it is ε Canis Majoris"},{"label":"Catalogue number","value":"HIP 33579"}],"sources":["HYG database 4.1 (Hipparcos, Yale Bright Star and Gliese catalogues), CC BY-SA 4.0"],"near":[["m41",8.7],["sirius",12.6],["m47",16.9],["canopus",24.6],["orion-nebula",30.7]],"what":"A blue-white bright giant in Canis Major"},
{"id":"castor","kind":"star","name":"Castor","ref":36850,"summary":"The second of the Gemini twins, which a telescope shows to be several stars, six in all, bound together.","ra":113.6495,"dec":31.8883,"mag":1.58,"con":"Gem","bv":0.03,"facts":[{"label":"Brightness","value":"Magnitude 1.58, the 25th brightest star in the night sky"},{"label":"Distance","value":"51 light years"},{"label":"Kind of star","value":"White main-sequence star, spectral type A2 V"},{"label":"Light it gives out","value":"About 49 times the Sun’s, in visible light"},{"label":"Constellation","value":"Gemini, where it is α Geminorum"},{"label":"Catalogue number","value":"HIP 36850"}],"sources":["HYG database 4.1 (Hipparcos, Yale Bright Star and Gliese catalogues), CC BY-SA 4.0"],"near":[["pollux",4.5],["beehive-cluster",19.2],["m35",20.3],["m37",21.6],["m36",24.8]],"what":"A white main-sequence star in Gemini"},
{"id":"gacrux","kind":"star","name":"Gacrux","ref":61084,"summary":"The top of the Southern Cross, a red giant whose warm colour stands out among the cross’s blue stars.","ra":187.7914,"dec":-57.1132,"mag":1.59,"con":"Cru","bv":1.6,"facts":[{"label":"Brightness","value":"Magnitude 1.59, the 26th brightest star in the night sky"},{"label":"Distance","value":"89 light years"},{"label":"Kind of star","value":"Red giant, spectral type M4 III"},{"label":"Light it gives out","value":"About 150 times the Sun’s, in visible light"},{"label":"Constellation","value":"Crux, where it is γ Crux"},{"label":"Catalogue number","value":"HIP 61084"}],"sources":["HYG database 4.1 (Hipparcos, Yale Bright Star and Gliese catalogues), CC BY-SA 4.0"],"near":[["mimosa",3.4],["jewel-box",4.4],["acrux",6],["hadar",12.4],["omega-centauri",12.8]],"what":"A red giant in Crux"},
{"id":"shaula","kind":"star","name":"Shaula","ref":85927,"summary":"The sting in the Scorpion’s tail, a hot blue star.","ra":263.4022,"dec":-37.1038,"mag":1.62,"con":"Sco","bv":-0.23,"facts":[{"label":"Brightness","value":"Magnitude 1.62, the 27th brightest star in the night sky"},{"label":"Distance","value":"571 light years"},{"label":"Kind of star","value":"Blue-white subgiant, spectral type B1.5 IV"},{"label":"Light it gives out","value":"About 6,000 times the Sun’s, in visible light"},{"label":"Constellation","value":"Scorpius, where it is λ Scorpii"},{"label":"Catalogue number","value":"HIP 85927"}],"sources":["HYG database 4.1 (Hipparcos, Yale Bright Star and Gliese catalogues), CC BY-SA 4.0"],"near":[["ptolemys-cluster",4.7],["butterfly-cluster",5],["kaus-australis",10.6],["lagoon-nebula",14.3],["trifid-nebula",15.5]],"what":"A blue-white subgiant in Scorpius"},
{"id":"bellatrix","kind":"star","name":"Bellatrix","ref":25336,"summary":"Orion’s other shoulder, across from Betelgeuse, a hot blue giant.","ra":81.2828,"dec":6.3497,"mag":1.64,"con":"Ori","bv":-0.22,"facts":[{"label":"Brightness","value":"Magnitude 1.64, the 28th brightest star in the night sky"},{"label":"Distance","value":"252 light years"},{"label":"Kind of star","value":"Blue-white giant, spectral type B2 III"},{"label":"Light it gives out","value":"About 1,200 times the Sun’s, in visible light"},{"label":"Constellation","value":"Orion, where it is γ Orionis"},{"label":"Catalogue number","value":"HIP 25336"}],"sources":["HYG database 4.1 (Hipparcos, Yale Bright Star and Gliese catalogues), CC BY-SA 4.0"],"near":[["mintaka",6.9],["betelgeuse",7.5],["alnilam",8],["alnitak",9.2],["orion-nebula",12]],"what":"A blue-white giant in Orion"},
{"id":"elnath","kind":"star","name":"Elnath","ref":25428,"summary":"The tip of the bull’s northern horn, a blue-white star that old charts shared with Auriga.","ra":81.573,"dec":28.6075,"mag":1.65,"con":"Tau","bv":-0.13,"facts":[{"label":"Brightness","value":"Magnitude 1.65, the 29th brightest star in the night sky"},{"label":"Distance","value":"134 light years"},{"label":"Kind of star","value":"Blue-white giant, spectral type B7 III"},{"label":"Light it gives out","value":"About 320 times the Sun’s, in visible light"},{"label":"Constellation","value":"Taurus, where it is β Tauri"},{"label":"Catalogue number","value":"HIP 25428"}],"sources":["HYG database 4.1 (Hipparcos, Yale Bright Star and Gliese catalogues), CC BY-SA 4.0"],"near":[["m36",5.9],["m37",6.8],["crab-nebula",6.9],["m38",7.3],["m35",10.5]],"what":"A blue-white giant in Taurus"},
{"id":"alnilam","kind":"star","name":"Alnilam","ref":26311,"summary":"The middle star of Orion’s Belt, a blue supergiant.","ra":84.0534,"dec":-1.2019,"mag":1.69,"con":"Ori","bv":-0.18,"facts":[{"label":"Brightness","value":"Magnitude 1.69, the 31st brightest star in the night sky"},{"label":"Distance","value":"About 2,000 light years"},{"label":"Kind of star","value":"Blue-white supergiant, spectral type B0 Ia"},{"label":"Light it gives out","value":"About 67,000 times the Sun’s, in visible light"},{"label":"Constellation","value":"Orion, where it is ε Orionis"},{"label":"Catalogue number","value":"HIP 26311"}],"sources":["HYG database 4.1 (Hipparcos, Yale Bright Star and Gliese catalogues), CC BY-SA 4.0"],"near":[["alnitak",1.4],["mintaka",1.4],["orion-nebula",4.2],["bellatrix",8],["rigel",8.8]],"what":"A blue-white supergiant in Orion"},
{"id":"alnitak","kind":"star","name":"Alnitak","ref":26727,"summary":"The eastern star of Orion’s Belt, a hot blue supergiant close in the sky to the Horsehead and Flame nebulae.","ra":85.1897,"dec":-1.9426,"mag":1.74,"con":"Ori","bv":-0.2,"facts":[{"label":"Brightness","value":"Magnitude 1.74, the 33rd brightest star in the night sky"},{"label":"Distance","value":"736 light years"},{"label":"Kind of star","value":"Blue supergiant, spectral type O9.5 Ib"},{"label":"Light it gives out","value":"About 8,900 times the Sun’s, in visible light"},{"label":"Constellation","value":"Orion, where it is ζ Orionis"},{"label":"Catalogue number","value":"HIP 26727"}],"sources":["HYG database 4.1 (Hipparcos, Yale Bright Star and Gliese catalogues), CC BY-SA 4.0"],"near":[["alnilam",1.4],["mintaka",2.7],["orion-nebula",3.7],["rigel",9],["bellatrix",9.2]],"what":"A blue supergiant in Orion"},
{"id":"mintaka","kind":"star","name":"Mintaka","ref":25930,"summary":"The western star of Orion’s Belt. It sits almost on the celestial equator, so it rises close to due east and sets close to due west everywhere on Earth.","ra":83.0017,"dec":-0.2991,"mag":2.25,"con":"Ori","bv":-0.17,"facts":[{"label":"Brightness","value":"Magnitude 2.25, the 75th brightest star in the night sky"},{"label":"Distance","value":"692 light years"},{"label":"Kind of star","value":"Blue bright giant, spectral type O9.5 II"},{"label":"Light it gives out","value":"About 4,900 times the Sun’s, in visible light"},{"label":"Constellation","value":"Orion, where it is δ Orionis"},{"label":"Catalogue number","value":"HIP 25930"}],"sources":["HYG database 4.1 (Hipparcos, Yale Bright Star and Gliese catalogues), CC BY-SA 4.0"],"near":[["alnilam",1.4],["alnitak",2.7],["orion-nebula",5.2],["bellatrix",6.9],["rigel",9]],"what":"A blue bright giant in Orion"},
{"id":"alioth","kind":"star","name":"Alioth","ref":62956,"summary":"The brightest star of the Big Dipper, the first star of its handle.","ra":193.5071,"dec":55.9598,"mag":1.76,"con":"UMa","bv":-0.02,"facts":[{"label":"Brightness","value":"Magnitude 1.76, the 35th brightest star in the night sky"},{"label":"Distance","value":"83 light years"},{"label":"Kind of star","value":"White star, spectral type A0"},{"label":"Light it gives out","value":"About 110 times the Sun’s, in visible light"},{"label":"Constellation","value":"Ursa Major, where it is ε Ursae Majoris"},{"label":"Catalogue number","value":"HIP 62956"}],"sources":["HYG database 4.1 (Hipparcos, Yale Bright Star and Gliese catalogues), CC BY-SA 4.0"],"near":[["mizar",4.4],["pinwheel-galaxy",10],["whirlpool-galaxy",10.4],["alkaid",10.5],["dubhe",15.2]],"what":"A white star in Ursa Major"},
{"id":"dubhe","kind":"star","name":"Dubhe","ref":54061,"summary":"One of the two pointer stars of the Big Dipper that lead the eye to Polaris, an orange giant.","ra":165.9323,"dec":61.751,"mag":1.81,"con":"UMa","bv":1.06,"facts":[{"label":"Brightness","value":"Magnitude 1.81, the 38th brightest star in the night sky"},{"label":"Distance","value":"123 light years"},{"label":"Light it gives out","value":"About 230 times the Sun’s, in visible light"},{"label":"Constellation","value":"Ursa Major, where it is α Ursae Majoris"},{"label":"Catalogue number","value":"HIP 54061"}],"sources":["HYG database 4.1 (Hipparcos, Yale Bright Star and Gliese catalogues), CC BY-SA 4.0"],"near":[["bodes-galaxy",10.1],["cigar-galaxy",10.5],["alioth",15.2],["mizar",19.3],["pinwheel-galaxy",24.3]],"what":"A bright star in Ursa Major"},
{"id":"mirfak","kind":"star","name":"Mirfak","ref":15863,"summary":"The brightest star in Perseus, a yellow-white supergiant inside a loose cluster of young stars.","ra":51.0807,"dec":49.8612,"mag":1.79,"con":"Per","bv":0.48,"facts":[{"label":"Brightness","value":"Magnitude 1.79, the 36th brightest star in the night sky"},{"label":"Distance","value":"506 light years"},{"label":"Kind of star","value":"Yellow-white supergiant, spectral type F5 Ib"},{"label":"Light it gives out","value":"About 4,000 times the Sun’s, in visible light"},{"label":"Constellation","value":"Perseus, where it is α Persei"},{"label":"Catalogue number","value":"HIP 15863"}],"sources":["HYG database 4.1 (Hipparcos, Yale Bright Star and Gliese catalogues), CC BY-SA 4.0"],"near":[["algol",9.3],["double-cluster",12.1],["capella",19.1],["pleiades",26.1],["m38",26.5]],"what":"A yellow-white supergiant in Perseus"},
{"id":"kaus-australis","kind":"star","name":"Kaus Australis","ref":90185,"summary":"The brightest star of Sagittarius, at the bottom of the Teapot.","ra":276.043,"dec":-34.3846,"mag":1.79,"con":"Sgr","bv":-0.03,"facts":[{"label":"Brightness","value":"Magnitude 1.79, the 37th brightest star in the night sky"},{"label":"Distance","value":"143 light years"},{"label":"Kind of star","value":"Blue-white giant, spectral type B9.5 III"},{"label":"Light it gives out","value":"About 320 times the Sun’s, in visible light"},{"label":"Constellation","value":"Sagittarius, where it is ε Sagittarii"},{"label":"Catalogue number","value":"HIP 90185"}],"sources":["HYG database 4.1 (Hipparcos, Yale Bright Star and Gliese catalogues), CC BY-SA 4.0"],"near":[["ptolemys-cluster",6.3],["butterfly-cluster",9.4],["shaula",10.6],["sagittarius-cluster",10.8],["lagoon-nebula",10.9]],"what":"A blue-white giant in Sagittarius"},
{"id":"alkaid","kind":"star","name":"Alkaid","ref":67301,"summary":"The end of the Big Dipper’s handle, a hot blue-white star.","ra":206.8853,"dec":49.3133,"mag":1.85,"con":"UMa","bv":-0.1,"facts":[{"label":"Brightness","value":"Magnitude 1.85, the 40th brightest star in the night sky"},{"label":"Distance","value":"104 light years"},{"label":"Kind of star","value":"Blue-white main-sequence star, spectral type B3 V"},{"label":"Light it gives out","value":"About 160 times the Sun’s, in visible light"},{"label":"Constellation","value":"Ursa Major, where it is η Ursae Majoris"},{"label":"Catalogue number","value":"HIP 67301"}],"sources":["HYG database 4.1 (Hipparcos, Yale Bright Star and Gliese catalogues), CC BY-SA 4.0"],"near":[["whirlpool-galaxy",3.6],["pinwheel-galaxy",5.6],["mizar",6.7],["alioth",10.5],["m3",21]],"what":"A blue-white main-sequence star in Ursa Major"},
{"id":"polaris","kind":"star","name":"Polaris","ref":11767,"summary":"The North Star. It stands almost exactly above the Earth’s north pole, so the whole sky seems to turn around it.","ra":37.9462,"dec":89.2641,"mag":1.97,"con":"UMi","bv":0.64,"facts":[{"label":"Brightness","value":"Magnitude 1.97, the 48th brightest star in the night sky"},{"label":"Distance","value":"433 light years"},{"label":"Kind of star","value":"Yellow-white supergiant, spectral type F7 Ib-II"},{"label":"Light it gives out","value":"About 2,500 times the Sun’s, in visible light"},{"label":"Constellation","value":"Ursa Minor, where it is α Ursae Minoris"},{"label":"Catalogue number","value":"HIP 11767"}],"sources":["HYG database 4.1 (Hipparcos, Yale Bright Star and Gliese catalogues), CC BY-SA 4.0"],"near":[["cigar-galaxy",20.6],["bodes-galaxy",21.2],["dubhe",28.7],["double-cluster",32.1],["alioth",34.7]],"what":"A yellow-white supergiant in Ursa Minor"},
{"id":"mizar","kind":"star","name":"Mizar","ref":65378,"summary":"The middle star of the Big Dipper’s handle, with fainter Alcor beside it, a classic test of eyesight.","ra":200.9812,"dec":54.9254,"mag":2.23,"con":"UMa","bv":0.06,"facts":[{"label":"Brightness","value":"Magnitude 2.23, the 71st brightest star in the night sky"},{"label":"Distance","value":"86 light years"},{"label":"Kind of star","value":"White main-sequence star, spectral type A2 V"},{"label":"Light it gives out","value":"About 77 times the Sun’s, in visible light"},{"label":"Constellation","value":"Ursa Major, where it is ζ Ursae Majoris"},{"label":"Catalogue number","value":"HIP 65378"}],"sources":["HYG database 4.1 (Hipparcos, Yale Bright Star and Gliese catalogues), CC BY-SA 4.0"],"near":[["alioth",4.4],["pinwheel-galaxy",5.7],["alkaid",6.7],["whirlpool-galaxy",7.8],["dubhe",19.3]],"what":"A white main-sequence star in Ursa Major"},
{"id":"algol","kind":"star","name":"Algol","ref":14576,"summary":"The Demon Star of Perseus, which fades for several hours every few days when the fainter star of the pair passes in front of the brighter.","ra":47.0422,"dec":40.9556,"mag":2.09,"con":"Per","bv":0,"facts":[{"label":"Brightness","value":"Magnitude 2.09, the 62nd brightest star in the night sky"},{"label":"Distance","value":"90 light years"},{"label":"Kind of star","value":"Blue-white main-sequence star, spectral type B8 V"},{"label":"Light it gives out","value":"About 97 times the Sun’s, in visible light"},{"label":"Constellation","value":"Perseus, where it is β Persei"},{"label":"Catalogue number","value":"HIP 14576"}],"sources":["HYG database 4.1 (Hipparcos, Yale Bright Star and Gliese catalogues), CC BY-SA 4.0"],"near":[["mirfak",9.3],["double-cluster",18],["pleiades",18.7],["triangulum-galaxy",21.6],["capella",23.7]],"what":"A blue-white main-sequence star in Perseus"},
{"id":"albireo","kind":"star","name":"Albireo","ref":95947,"summary":"The beak of the Swan, which a small telescope splits into a golden star and a blue one.","ra":292.6803,"dec":27.9597,"mag":3.05,"con":"Cyg","bv":1.09,"facts":[{"label":"Brightness","value":"Magnitude 3.05, the 187th brightest star in the night sky"},{"label":"Distance","value":"434 light years"},{"label":"Kind of star","value":"Orange bright giant, spectral type K3 II"},{"label":"Light it gives out","value":"About 930 times the Sun’s, in visible light"},{"label":"Constellation","value":"Cygnus, where it is β Cygni"},{"label":"Catalogue number","value":"HIP 95947"}],"sources":["HYG database 4.1 (Hipparcos, Yale Bright Star and Gliese catalogues), CC BY-SA 4.0"],"near":[["dumbbell-nebula",8.4],["ring-nebula",9.5],["vega",15.6],["altair",19.7],["deneb",22.3]],"what":"An orange bright giant in Cygnus"},
{"id":"denebola","kind":"star","name":"Denebola","ref":57632,"summary":"The tail of Leo the lion, a white star at the eastern end of the constellation.","ra":177.2649,"dec":14.5721,"mag":2.14,"con":"Leo","bv":0.09,"facts":[{"label":"Brightness","value":"Magnitude 2.14, the 64th brightest star in the night sky"},{"label":"Distance","value":"36 light years"},{"label":"Kind of star","value":"White main-sequence star, spectral type A3 V"},{"label":"Light it gives out","value":"About 15 times the Sun’s, in visible light"},{"label":"Constellation","value":"Leo, where it is β Leonis"},{"label":"Catalogue number","value":"HIP 57632"}],"sources":["HYG database 4.1 (Hipparcos, Yale Bright Star and Gliese catalogues), CC BY-SA 4.0"],"near":[["virgo-a",10.4],["coma-star-cluster",14.3],["black-eye-galaxy",17.6],["regulus",24.6],["sombrero-galaxy",29.1]],"what":"A white main-sequence star in Leo"},
{"id":"andromeda-galaxy","kind":"dso","name":"Andromeda Galaxy","ref":"m31","summary":"The nearest large galaxy to our own, and the farthest thing most people can see with the eye alone.","ra":10.6848,"dec":41.2691,"mag":3.4,"con":"And","type":"galaxy","facts":[{"label":"Kind of object","value":"Galaxy"},{"label":"Distance","value":"2.54 million light years"},{"label":"Brightness","value":"Magnitude 3.4, easy to see with the eye"},{"label":"Size in the sky","value":"About 6 times the width of the full Moon"},{"label":"Constellation","value":"Andromeda"},{"label":"Catalogue","value":"M 31, NGC 224"}],"sources":["OpenNGC, CC BY-SA 4.0","the SEDS Messier catalogue, via Wikipedia’s table of Messier objects, CC BY-SA 4.0"],"near":[["triangulum-galaxy",14.8],["double-cluster",22.1],["algol",27.2],["mirfak",29.2],["m39",34]],"what":"A galaxy in Andromeda"},
{"id":"orion-nebula","kind":"dso","name":"Orion Nebula","ref":"m42","summary":"A cloud of glowing gas where new stars are being born, visible to the eye as the fuzzy middle star of Orion’s sword.","ra":83.8187,"dec":-5.3897,"mag":4,"con":"Ori","type":"nebula","facts":[{"label":"Kind of object","value":"Cloud of glowing gas (nebula)"},{"label":"Distance","value":"1,344 light years"},{"label":"Brightness","value":"Magnitude 4.0, visible to the eye from a dark site, easy in binoculars"},{"label":"Size in the sky","value":"About 3 times the width of the full Moon"},{"label":"Constellation","value":"Orion"},{"label":"Catalogue","value":"M 42, NGC 1976"}],"sources":["OpenNGC, CC BY-SA 4.0","the SEDS Messier catalogue, via Wikipedia’s table of Messier objects, CC BY-SA 4.0"],"near":[["alnitak",3.7],["alnilam",4.2],["mintaka",5.2],["rigel",5.9],["bellatrix",12]],"what":"A nebula in Orion"},
{"id":"pleiades","kind":"dso","name":"Pleiades","ref":"m45","summary":"The Seven Sisters, a cluster of young blue stars that most eyes see as a tiny dipper of six or seven.","ra":56.8692,"dec":24.1053,"mag":1.6,"con":"Tau","type":"open-cluster","facts":[{"label":"Kind of object","value":"Open star cluster"},{"label":"Distance","value":"425 light years"},{"label":"Brightness","value":"Magnitude 1.6, easy to see with the eye"},{"label":"Size in the sky","value":"About 5 times the width of the full Moon"},{"label":"Constellation","value":"Taurus"},{"label":"Catalogue","value":"M 45"}],"sources":["OpenNGC, CC BY-SA 4.0","the SEDS Messier catalogue, via Wikipedia’s table of Messier objects, CC BY-SA 4.0"],"near":[["hyades",12.4],["aldebaran",13.7],["algol",18.7],["elnath",22.5],["crab-nebula",24.7]],"what":"An open cluster in Taurus"},
{"id":"beehive-cluster","kind":"dso","name":"Beehive Cluster","ref":"m44","summary":"A swarm of stars in Cancer that looks like a small cloud to the eye and breaks into dozens of stars in binoculars.","ra":130.0925,"dec":19.6721,"mag":3.7,"con":"Cnc","type":"open-cluster","facts":[{"label":"Kind of object","value":"Open star cluster"},{"label":"Distance","value":"577 light years"},{"label":"Brightness","value":"Magnitude 3.7, visible to the eye from a dark site, easy in binoculars"},{"label":"Size in the sky","value":"About 3 times the width of the full Moon"},{"label":"Constellation","value":"Cancer"},{"label":"Catalogue","value":"M 44, NGC 2632"}],"sources":["OpenNGC, CC BY-SA 4.0","the SEDS Messier catalogue, via Wikipedia’s table of Messier objects, CC BY-SA 4.0"],"near":[["pollux",15.1],["castor",19.2],["procyon",20.7],["regulus",22.5],["m35",35.3]],"what":"An open cluster in Cancer"},
{"id":"hercules-globular-cluster","kind":"dso","name":"Hercules Globular Cluster","ref":"m13","summary":"The finest globular cluster in northern skies, a ball of hundreds of thousands of old stars.","ra":250.4235,"dec":36.4613,"mag":5.8,"con":"Her","type":"globular","facts":[{"label":"Kind of object","value":"Globular star cluster"},{"label":"Distance","value":"22,200 light years"},{"label":"Brightness","value":"Magnitude 5.8, a sight for binoculars"},{"label":"Size in the sky","value":"About half the width of the full Moon"},{"label":"Constellation","value":"Hercules"},{"label":"Catalogue","value":"M 13, NGC 6205"}],"sources":["OpenNGC, CC BY-SA 4.0","the SEDS Messier catalogue, via Wikipedia’s table of Messier objects, CC BY-SA 4.0"],"near":[["m92",9.5],["vega",22.8],["ring-nebula",27.2],["pinwheel-galaxy",32.4],["alkaid",33.8]],"what":"A globular cluster in Hercules"},
{"id":"lagoon-nebula","kind":"dso","name":"Lagoon Nebula","ref":"m8","summary":"A large cloud of glowing gas in Sagittarius with a young star cluster inside, faintly visible to the eye from a dark site.","ra":270.922,"dec":-24.3802,"mag":4.6,"con":"Sgr","type":"nebula","facts":[{"label":"Kind of object","value":"Cloud of glowing gas (nebula)"},{"label":"Distance","value":"4,100 light years"},{"label":"Brightness","value":"Magnitude 4.6, visible to the eye from a dark site, easy in binoculars"},{"label":"Size in the sky","value":"About as wide as the full Moon"},{"label":"Constellation","value":"Sagittarius"},{"label":"Catalogue","value":"M 8, NGC 6523"}],"sources":["OpenNGC, CC BY-SA 4.0","the SEDS Messier catalogue, via Wikipedia’s table of Messier objects, CC BY-SA 4.0"],"near":[["trifid-nebula",1.4],["small-sagittarius-star-cloud",6.6],["sagittarius-cluster",7.5],["omega-nebula",9.1],["butterfly-cluster",9.4]],"what":"A nebula in Sagittarius"},
{"id":"ring-nebula","kind":"dso","name":"Ring Nebula","ref":"m57","summary":"A ring of gas thrown off by a dying star, small but crisp in a telescope.","ra":283.3959,"dec":33.0286,"mag":8.8,"con":"Lyr","type":"planetary","facts":[{"label":"Kind of object","value":"Planetary nebula"},{"label":"Distance","value":"2,700 light years"},{"label":"Brightness","value":"Magnitude 8.8, a sight for a small telescope"},{"label":"Size in the sky","value":"1.3 arcminutes, a small spot even in a telescope"},{"label":"Constellation","value":"Lyra"},{"label":"Catalogue","value":"M 57, NGC 6720"}],"sources":["OpenNGC, CC BY-SA 4.0","the SEDS Messier catalogue, via Wikipedia’s table of Messier objects, CC BY-SA 4.0"],"near":[["vega",6.7],["albireo",9.5],["dumbbell-nebula",17.8],["m92",21.4],["deneb",24.1]],"what":"A planetary nebula in Lyra"},
{"id":"dumbbell-nebula","kind":"dso","name":"Dumbbell Nebula","ref":"m27","summary":"A shell of gas puffed out by a dying star, one of the brightest of its kind and visible in binoculars.","ra":299.9016,"dec":22.721,"mag":7.4,"con":"Vul","type":"planetary","facts":[{"label":"Kind of object","value":"Planetary nebula"},{"label":"Distance","value":"1,334 light years"},{"label":"Brightness","value":"Magnitude 7.4, a sight for binoculars"},{"label":"Size in the sky","value":"About a fifth of the width of the full Moon"},{"label":"Constellation","value":"Vulpecula"},{"label":"Catalogue","value":"M 27, NGC 6853"}],"sources":["OpenNGC, CC BY-SA 4.0","the SEDS Messier catalogue, via Wikipedia’s table of Messier objects, CC BY-SA 4.0"],"near":[["albireo",8.4],["altair",14],["ring-nebula",17.8],["vega",23.8],["m15",24]],"what":"A planetary nebula in Vulpecula"},
{"id":"crab-nebula","kind":"dso","name":"Crab Nebula","ref":"m1","summary":"What is left of a star that exploded in the year 1054, an explosion seen and recorded by astronomers in China.","ra":83.6332,"dec":22.0145,"mag":8.4,"con":"Tau","type":"supernova-remnant","facts":[{"label":"Kind of object","value":"Supernova remnant"},{"label":"Distance","value":"6,500 light years"},{"label":"Brightness","value":"Magnitude 8.4, a sight for a small telescope"},{"label":"Size in the sky","value":"About a quarter of the width of the full Moon"},{"label":"Constellation","value":"Taurus"},{"label":"Catalogue","value":"M 1, NGC 1952"}],"sources":["OpenNGC, CC BY-SA 4.0","the SEDS Messier catalogue, via Wikipedia’s table of Messier objects, CC BY-SA 4.0"],"near":[["elnath",6.9],["m35",8.3],["m37",11.3],["m36",12.1],["m38",13.9]],"what":"A supernova remnant in Taurus"},
{"id":"whirlpool-galaxy","kind":"dso","name":"Whirlpool Galaxy","ref":"m51","summary":"A spiral galaxy seen face on, pulling at a smaller companion; the first galaxy whose spiral arms anyone saw.","ra":202.4696,"dec":47.1952,"mag":8.4,"con":"CVn","type":"galaxy","facts":[{"label":"Kind of object","value":"Galaxy"},{"label":"Distance","value":"23 million light years"},{"label":"Brightness","value":"Magnitude 8.4, a sight for a small telescope"},{"label":"Size in the sky","value":"About half the width of the full Moon"},{"label":"Constellation","value":"Canes Venatici"},{"label":"Catalogue","value":"M 51, NGC 5194"}],"sources":["OpenNGC, CC BY-SA 4.0","the SEDS Messier catalogue, via Wikipedia’s table of Messier objects, CC BY-SA 4.0"],"near":[["alkaid",3.6],["mizar",7.8],["pinwheel-galaxy",8.9],["alioth",10.4],["m3",19]],"what":"A galaxy in Canes Venatici"},
{"id":"bodes-galaxy","kind":"dso","name":"Bode’s Galaxy","ref":"m81","summary":"A bright spiral galaxy in Ursa Major, close in the sky to the Cigar Galaxy.","ra":148.8882,"dec":69.0653,"mag":6.9,"con":"UMa","type":"galaxy","facts":[{"label":"Kind of object","value":"Galaxy"},{"label":"Distance","value":"11.8 million light years"},{"label":"Brightness","value":"Magnitude 6.9, a sight for binoculars"},{"label":"Size in the sky","value":"About half the width of the full Moon"},{"label":"Constellation","value":"Ursa Major"},{"label":"Catalogue","value":"M 81, NGC 3031"}],"sources":["OpenNGC, CC BY-SA 4.0","the SEDS Messier catalogue, via Wikipedia’s table of Messier objects, CC BY-SA 4.0"],"near":[["cigar-galaxy",0.6],["dubhe",10.1],["polaris",21.2],["alioth",23.6],["mizar",27.1]],"what":"A galaxy in Ursa Major"},
{"id":"cigar-galaxy","kind":"dso","name":"Cigar Galaxy","ref":"m82","summary":"A galaxy seen edge on, making new stars at a furious rate since a close pass by its neighbour, Bode’s Galaxy.","ra":148.9697,"dec":69.6794,"mag":8.4,"con":"UMa","type":"galaxy","facts":[{"label":"Kind of object","value":"Galaxy"},{"label":"Distance","value":"11.5 million light years"},{"label":"Brightness","value":"Magnitude 8.4, a sight for a small telescope"},{"label":"Size in the sky","value":"About a third of the width of the full Moon"},{"label":"Constellation","value":"Ursa Major"},{"label":"Catalogue","value":"M 82, NGC 3034"}],"sources":["OpenNGC, CC BY-SA 4.0","the SEDS Messier catalogue, via Wikipedia’s table of Messier objects, CC BY-SA 4.0"],"near":[["bodes-galaxy",0.6],["dubhe",10.5],["polaris",20.6],["alioth",23.7],["mizar",27.1]],"what":"A galaxy in Ursa Major"},
{"id":"triangulum-galaxy","kind":"dso","name":"Triangulum Galaxy","ref":"m33","summary":"The third largest galaxy of our Local Group, a faint face-on spiral that needs a dark sky and binoculars.","ra":23.462,"dec":30.6602,"mag":5.7,"con":"Tri","type":"galaxy","facts":[{"label":"Kind of object","value":"Galaxy"},{"label":"Distance","value":"2.73 million light years"},{"label":"Brightness","value":"Magnitude 5.7, a sight for binoculars"},{"label":"Size in the sky","value":"About 2 times the width of the full Moon"},{"label":"Constellation","value":"Triangulum"},{"label":"Catalogue","value":"M 33, NGC 598"}],"sources":["OpenNGC, CC BY-SA 4.0","the SEDS Messier catalogue, via Wikipedia’s table of Messier objects, CC BY-SA 4.0"],"near":[["andromeda-galaxy",14.8],["algol",21.6],["double-cluster",27.6],["mirfak",28.2],["pleiades",30.3]],"what":"A galaxy in Triangulum"},
{"id":"sombrero-galaxy","kind":"dso","name":"Sombrero Galaxy","ref":"m104","summary":"A galaxy seen almost edge on, a dark lane of dust across its bright core like the brim of a hat.","ra":189.9976,"dec":-11.6231,"mag":8,"con":"Vir","type":"galaxy","facts":[{"label":"Kind of object","value":"Galaxy"},{"label":"Distance","value":"29.8 million light years"},{"label":"Brightness","value":"Magnitude 8.0, a sight for binoculars"},{"label":"Size in the sky","value":"About a quarter of the width of the full Moon"},{"label":"Constellation","value":"Virgo"},{"label":"Catalogue","value":"M 104, NGC 4594"}],"sources":["OpenNGC, CC BY-SA 4.0","the SEDS Messier catalogue, via Wikipedia’s table of Messier objects, CC BY-SA 4.0"],"near":[["spica",11.1],["virgo-a",24.1],["denebola",29.1],["centaurus-a",32.9],["black-eye-galaxy",33.6]],"what":"A galaxy in Virgo"},
{"id":"wild-duck-cluster","kind":"dso","name":"Wild Duck Cluster","ref":"m11","summary":"A rich cluster in Scutum whose brightest stars form a V, like a flight of ducks.","ra":282.775,"dec":-6.27,"mag":5.8,"con":"Sct","type":"open-cluster","facts":[{"label":"Kind of object","value":"Open star cluster"},{"label":"Distance","value":"6,200 light years"},{"label":"Brightness","value":"Magnitude 5.8, a sight for binoculars"},{"label":"Size in the sky","value":"About a quarter of the width of the full Moon"},{"label":"Constellation","value":"Scutum"},{"label":"Catalogue","value":"M 11, NGC 6705"}],"sources":["OpenNGC, CC BY-SA 4.0","the SEDS Messier catalogue, via Wikipedia’s table of Messier objects, CC BY-SA 4.0"],"near":[["eagle-nebula",11],["omega-nebula",12.4],["small-sagittarius-star-cloud",14.8],["sagittarius-cluster",18],["trifid-nebula",20.4]],"what":"An open cluster in Scutum"},
{"id":"ptolemys-cluster","kind":"dso","name":"Ptolemy’s Cluster","ref":"m7","summary":"A bright open cluster near the Scorpion’s tail, written down by Ptolemy almost two thousand years ago.","ra":268.4632,"dec":-34.7928,"mag":3.3,"con":"Sco","type":"open-cluster","facts":[{"label":"Kind of object","value":"Open star cluster"},{"label":"Distance","value":"980 light years"},{"label":"Brightness","value":"Magnitude 3.3, easy to see with the eye"},{"label":"Size in the sky","value":"About half the width of the full Moon"},{"label":"Constellation","value":"Scorpius"},{"label":"Catalogue","value":"M 7, NGC 6475"}],"sources":["OpenNGC, CC BY-SA 4.0","the SEDS Messier catalogue, via Wikipedia’s table of Messier objects, CC BY-SA 4.0"],"near":[["butterfly-cluster",3.8],["shaula",4.7],["kaus-australis",6.3],["lagoon-nebula",10.6],["trifid-nebula",12]],"what":"An open cluster in Scorpius"},
{"id":"butterfly-cluster","kind":"dso","name":"Butterfly Cluster","ref":"m6","summary":"An open cluster near the Scorpion’s tail whose stars outline the wings of a butterfly.","ra":265.0865,"dec":-32.2542,"mag":4.2,"con":"Sco","type":"open-cluster","facts":[{"label":"Kind of object","value":"Open star cluster"},{"label":"Distance","value":"1,600 light years"},{"label":"Brightness","value":"Magnitude 4.2, visible to the eye from a dark site, easy in binoculars"},{"label":"Size in the sky","value":"About half the width of the full Moon"},{"label":"Constellation","value":"Scorpius"},{"label":"Catalogue","value":"M 6, NGC 6405"}],"sources":["OpenNGC, CC BY-SA 4.0","the SEDS Messier catalogue, via Wikipedia’s table of Messier objects, CC BY-SA 4.0"],"near":[["ptolemys-cluster",3.8],["shaula",5],["kaus-australis",9.4],["lagoon-nebula",9.4],["trifid-nebula",10.5]],"what":"An open cluster in Scorpius"},
{"id":"sagittarius-cluster","kind":"dso","name":"Sagittarius Cluster","ref":"m22","summary":"One of the nearest and brightest globular clusters, a ball of old stars just above the Teapot of Sagittarius.","ra":279.1008,"dec":-23.9034,"mag":5.1,"con":"Sgr","type":"globular","facts":[{"label":"Kind of object","value":"Globular star cluster"},{"label":"Distance","value":"10,600 light years"},{"label":"Brightness","value":"Magnitude 5.1, visible to the eye from a dark site, easy in binoculars"},{"label":"Size in the sky","value":"About a third of the width of the full Moon"},{"label":"Constellation","value":"Sagittarius"},{"label":"Catalogue","value":"M 22, NGC 6656"}],"sources":["OpenNGC, CC BY-SA 4.0","the SEDS Messier catalogue, via Wikipedia’s table of Messier objects, CC BY-SA 4.0"],"near":[["small-sagittarius-star-cloud",7],["lagoon-nebula",7.5],["trifid-nebula",7.8],["omega-nebula",8.6],["kaus-australis",10.8]],"what":"A globular cluster in Sagittarius"},
{"id":"m4","kind":"dso","name":"M 4","ref":"m4","summary":"One of the closest globular clusters to us, sitting just beside Antares.","ra":245.8975,"dec":-26.5255,"mag":5.6,"con":"Sco","type":"globular","facts":[{"label":"Kind of object","value":"Globular star cluster"},{"label":"Distance","value":"7,200 light years"},{"label":"Brightness","value":"Magnitude 5.6, a sight for binoculars"},{"label":"Size in the sky","value":"About as wide as the full Moon"},{"label":"Constellation","value":"Scorpius"},{"label":"Catalogue","value":"M 4, NGC 6121"}],"sources":["OpenNGC, CC BY-SA 4.0","the SEDS Messier catalogue, via Wikipedia’s table of Messier objects, CC BY-SA 4.0"],"near":[["antares",1.3],["butterfly-cluster",17.6],["shaula",18.2],["ptolemys-cluster",21],["lagoon-nebula",22.7]],"what":"A globular cluster in Scorpius"},
{"id":"m3","kind":"dso","name":"M 3","ref":"m3","summary":"A large, bright globular cluster in Canes Venatici, home to more variable stars than any other.","ra":205.5468,"dec":28.3754,"mag":6.2,"con":"CVn","type":"globular","facts":[{"label":"Kind of object","value":"Globular star cluster"},{"label":"Distance","value":"33,900 light years"},{"label":"Brightness","value":"Magnitude 6.2, a sight for binoculars"},{"label":"Size in the sky","value":"About half the width of the full Moon"},{"label":"Constellation","value":"Canes Venatici"},{"label":"Catalogue","value":"M 3, NGC 5272"}],"sources":["OpenNGC, CC BY-SA 4.0","the SEDS Messier catalogue, via Wikipedia’s table of Messier objects, CC BY-SA 4.0"],"near":[["arcturus",12],["black-eye-galaxy",12.3],["coma-star-cluster",17.3],["whirlpool-galaxy",19],["alkaid",21]],"what":"A globular cluster in Canes Venatici"},
{"id":"m5","kind":"dso","name":"M 5","ref":"m5","summary":"A bright globular cluster in Serpens, easy in binoculars as a fuzzy star.","ra":229.6406,"dec":2.0827,"mag":5.6,"con":"Ser","type":"globular","facts":[{"label":"Kind of object","value":"Globular star cluster"},{"label":"Distance","value":"24,500 light years"},{"label":"Brightness","value":"Magnitude 5.6, a sight for binoculars"},{"label":"Size in the sky","value":"About half the width of the full Moon"},{"label":"Constellation","value":"Serpens"},{"label":"Catalogue","value":"M 5, NGC 5904"}],"sources":["OpenNGC, CC BY-SA 4.0","the SEDS Messier catalogue, via Wikipedia’s table of Messier objects, CC BY-SA 4.0"],"near":[["arcturus",23],["spica",31.1],["m4",32.6],["antares",33.3],["m3",34.9]],"what":"A globular cluster in Serpens"},
{"id":"m15","kind":"dso","name":"M 15","ref":"m15","summary":"An old globular cluster in Pegasus whose stars are packed tighter at the centre than in almost any other.","ra":322.4932,"dec":12.1668,"mag":6.2,"con":"Peg","type":"globular","facts":[{"label":"Kind of object","value":"Globular star cluster"},{"label":"Distance","value":"33,000 light years"},{"label":"Brightness","value":"Magnitude 6.2, a sight for binoculars"},{"label":"Size in the sky","value":"About a third of the width of the full Moon"},{"label":"Constellation","value":"Pegasus"},{"label":"Catalogue","value":"M 15, NGC 7078"}],"sources":["OpenNGC, CC BY-SA 4.0","the SEDS Messier catalogue, via Wikipedia’s table of Messier objects, CC BY-SA 4.0"],"near":[["dumbbell-nebula",24],["altair",24.6],["albireo",32],["deneb",34.7],["m39",36.3]],"what":"A globular cluster in Pegasus"},
{"id":"m92","kind":"dso","name":"M 92","ref":"m92","summary":"A bright globular cluster in Hercules, often passed over for its famous neighbour M 13.","ra":259.2803,"dec":43.1365,"mag":6.4,"con":"Her","type":"globular","facts":[{"label":"Kind of object","value":"Globular star cluster"},{"label":"Distance","value":"26,700 light years"},{"label":"Brightness","value":"Magnitude 6.4, a sight for binoculars"},{"label":"Size in the sky","value":"About half the width of the full Moon"},{"label":"Constellation","value":"Hercules"},{"label":"Catalogue","value":"M 92, NGC 6341"}],"sources":["OpenNGC, CC BY-SA 4.0","the SEDS Messier catalogue, via Wikipedia’s table of Messier objects, CC BY-SA 4.0"],"near":[["hercules-globular-cluster",9.5],["vega",15.6],["ring-nebula",21.4],["albireo",30.8],["pinwheel-galaxy",33.1]],"what":"A globular cluster in Hercules"},
{"id":"m35","kind":"dso","name":"M 35","ref":"m35","summary":"A large open cluster at the feet of the Gemini twins, a fuzzy patch to the eye under a dark sky.","ra":92.2711,"dec":24.3386,"mag":5.3,"con":"Gem","type":"open-cluster","facts":[{"label":"Kind of object","value":"Open star cluster"},{"label":"Distance","value":"2,800 light years"},{"label":"Brightness","value":"Magnitude 5.3, visible to the eye from a dark site, easy in binoculars"},{"label":"Size in the sky","value":"About as wide as the full Moon"},{"label":"Constellation","value":"Gemini"},{"label":"Catalogue","value":"M 35, NGC 2168"}],"sources":["OpenNGC, CC BY-SA 4.0","the SEDS Messier catalogue, via Wikipedia’s table of Messier objects, CC BY-SA 4.0"],"near":[["crab-nebula",8.3],["m37",9],["elnath",10.5],["m36",12.1],["m38",14.4]],"what":"An open cluster in Gemini"},
{"id":"m36","kind":"dso","name":"M 36","ref":"m36","summary":"An open cluster of young stars in Auriga, one of three Messier clusters in a row there.","ra":84.0739,"dec":34.1407,"mag":6.3,"con":"Aur","type":"open-cluster","facts":[{"label":"Kind of object","value":"Open star cluster"},{"label":"Distance","value":"4,100 light years"},{"label":"Brightness","value":"Magnitude 6.3, a sight for binoculars"},{"label":"Size in the sky","value":"About a quarter of the width of the full Moon"},{"label":"Constellation","value":"Auriga"},{"label":"Catalogue","value":"M 36, NGC 1960"}],"sources":["OpenNGC, CC BY-SA 4.0","the SEDS Messier catalogue, via Wikipedia’s table of Messier objects, CC BY-SA 4.0"],"near":[["m38",2.3],["m37",3.7],["elnath",5.9],["m35",12.1],["crab-nebula",12.1]],"what":"An open cluster in Auriga"},
{"id":"m37","kind":"dso","name":"M 37","ref":"m37","summary":"The richest of the three Messier clusters in a row across Auriga.","ra":88.0765,"dec":32.553,"mag":6.2,"con":"Aur","type":"open-cluster","facts":[{"label":"Kind of object","value":"Open star cluster"},{"label":"Distance","value":"4,511 light years"},{"label":"Brightness","value":"Magnitude 6.2, a sight for binoculars"},{"label":"Size in the sky","value":"About a third of the width of the full Moon"},{"label":"Constellation","value":"Auriga"},{"label":"Catalogue","value":"M 37, NGC 2099"}],"sources":["OpenNGC, CC BY-SA 4.0","the SEDS Messier catalogue, via Wikipedia’s table of Messier objects, CC BY-SA 4.0"],"near":[["m36",3.7],["m38",5.9],["elnath",6.8],["m35",9],["crab-nebula",11.3]],"what":"An open cluster in Auriga"},
{"id":"m38","kind":"dso","name":"M 38","ref":"m38","summary":"An open cluster in Auriga, the third of the row with M 36 and M 37.","ra":82.177,"dec":35.8549,"mag":7.4,"con":"Aur","type":"open-cluster","facts":[{"label":"Kind of object","value":"Open star cluster"},{"label":"Distance","value":"4,200 light years"},{"label":"Brightness","value":"Magnitude 7.4, a sight for binoculars"},{"label":"Size in the sky","value":"About a third of the width of the full Moon"},{"label":"Constellation","value":"Auriga"},{"label":"Catalogue","value":"M 38, NGC 1912"}],"sources":["OpenNGC, CC BY-SA 4.0","the SEDS Messier catalogue, via Wikipedia’s table of Messier objects, CC BY-SA 4.0"],"near":[["m36",2.3],["m37",5.9],["elnath",7.3],["capella",10.4],["crab-nebula",13.9]],"what":"An open cluster in Auriga"},
{"id":"m41","kind":"dso","name":"M 41","ref":"m41","summary":"A bright open cluster just south of Sirius, easy in binoculars.","ra":101.4998,"dec":-20.7542,"mag":4.5,"con":"CMa","type":"open-cluster","facts":[{"label":"Kind of object","value":"Open star cluster"},{"label":"Distance","value":"2,300 light years"},{"label":"Brightness","value":"Magnitude 4.5, visible to the eye from a dark site, easy in binoculars"},{"label":"Size in the sky","value":"About a third of the width of the full Moon"},{"label":"Constellation","value":"Canis Major"},{"label":"Catalogue","value":"M 41, NGC 2287"}],"sources":["OpenNGC, CC BY-SA 4.0","the SEDS Messier catalogue, via Wikipedia’s table of Messier objects, CC BY-SA 4.0"],"near":[["sirius",4],["adhara",8.7],["m47",13.6],["orion-nebula",23],["alnitak",24.6]],"what":"An open cluster in Canis Major"},
{"id":"m47","kind":"dso","name":"M 47","ref":"m47","summary":"A bright, loose open cluster in Puppis, close in the sky to M 46.","ra":114.1459,"dec":-14.4826,"mag":4.4,"con":"Pup","type":"open-cluster","facts":[{"label":"Kind of object","value":"Open star cluster"},{"label":"Distance","value":"1,600 light years"},{"label":"Brightness","value":"Magnitude 4.4, visible to the eye from a dark site, easy in binoculars"},{"label":"Size in the sky","value":"About half the width of the full Moon"},{"label":"Constellation","value":"Puppis"},{"label":"Catalogue","value":"M 47, NGC 2422"}],"sources":["OpenNGC, CC BY-SA 4.0","the SEDS Messier catalogue, via Wikipedia’s table of Messier objects, CC BY-SA 4.0"],"near":[["sirius",12.6],["m41",13.6],["adhara",16.9],["procyon",19.7],["orion-nebula",31.2]],"what":"An open cluster in Puppis"},
{"id":"m39","kind":"dso","name":"M 39","ref":"m39","summary":"A large, loose open cluster in Cygnus, at its best in binoculars.","ra":322.9513,"dec":48.4382,"mag":4.6,"con":"Cyg","type":"open-cluster","facts":[{"label":"Kind of object","value":"Open star cluster"},{"label":"Distance","value":"824 light years"},{"label":"Brightness","value":"Magnitude 4.6, visible to the eye from a dark site, easy in binoculars"},{"label":"Size in the sky","value":"About half the width of the full Moon"},{"label":"Constellation","value":"Cygnus"},{"label":"Catalogue","value":"M 39, NGC 7092"}],"sources":["OpenNGC, CC BY-SA 4.0","the SEDS Messier catalogue, via Wikipedia’s table of Messier objects, CC BY-SA 4.0"],"near":[["deneb",9.2],["albireo",31],["dumbbell-nebula",31.6],["vega",32.6],["ring-nebula",33.2]],"what":"An open cluster in Cygnus"},
{"id":"eagle-nebula","kind":"dso","name":"Eagle Nebula","ref":"m16","summary":"A star cluster wrapped in glowing gas, home of the Pillars of Creation that the Hubble Space Telescope photographed.","ra":274.7007,"dec":-13.8072,"mag":6.4,"con":"Ser","type":"nebula","facts":[{"label":"Kind of object","value":"Cloud of glowing gas (nebula)"},{"label":"Distance","value":"7,000 light years"},{"label":"Brightness","value":"Magnitude 6.4, a sight for binoculars"},{"label":"Size in the sky","value":"About 4 times the width of the full Moon"},{"label":"Constellation","value":"Serpens"},{"label":"Catalogue","value":"M 16, NGC 6611"}],"sources":["OpenNGC, CC BY-SA 4.0","the SEDS Messier catalogue, via Wikipedia’s table of Messier objects, CC BY-SA 4.0"],"near":[["omega-nebula",2.4],["small-sagittarius-star-cloud",4.7],["trifid-nebula",9.9],["sagittarius-cluster",10.9],["wild-duck-cluster",11]],"what":"A nebula in Serpens"},
{"id":"omega-nebula","kind":"dso","name":"Omega Nebula","ref":"m17","summary":"One of the brightest clouds of star-forming gas in the sky, in Sagittarius.","ra":275.1963,"dec":-16.1715,"mag":6,"con":"Sgr","type":"nebula","facts":[{"label":"Kind of object","value":"Cloud of glowing gas (nebula)"},{"label":"Distance","value":"5,500 light years"},{"label":"Brightness","value":"Magnitude 6.0, a sight for binoculars"},{"label":"Size in the sky","value":"About a third of the width of the full Moon"},{"label":"Constellation","value":"Sagittarius"},{"label":"Catalogue","value":"M 17, NGC 6618"}],"sources":["OpenNGC, CC BY-SA 4.0","the SEDS Messier catalogue, via Wikipedia’s table of Messier objects, CC BY-SA 4.0"],"near":[["eagle-nebula",2.4],["small-sagittarius-star-cloud",2.5],["trifid-nebula",8],["sagittarius-cluster",8.6],["lagoon-nebula",9.1]],"what":"A nebula in Sagittarius"},
{"id":"trifid-nebula","kind":"dso","name":"Trifid Nebula","ref":"m20","summary":"A glowing cloud split in three by dark lanes of dust, with a blue reflection nebula beside it.","ra":270.6755,"dec":-22.9719,"mag":6.3,"con":"Sgr","type":"nebula","facts":[{"label":"Kind of object","value":"Cloud of glowing gas (nebula)"},{"label":"Distance","value":"5,200 light years"},{"label":"Brightness","value":"Magnitude 6.3, a sight for binoculars"},{"label":"Size in the sky","value":"About as wide as the full Moon"},{"label":"Constellation","value":"Sagittarius"},{"label":"Catalogue","value":"M 20, NGC 6514"}],"sources":["OpenNGC, CC BY-SA 4.0","the SEDS Messier catalogue, via Wikipedia’s table of Messier objects, CC BY-SA 4.0"],"near":[["lagoon-nebula",1.4],["small-sagittarius-star-cloud",5.6],["sagittarius-cluster",7.8],["omega-nebula",8],["eagle-nebula",9.9]],"what":"A nebula in Sagittarius"},
{"id":"small-sagittarius-star-cloud","kind":"dso","name":"Small Sagittarius Star Cloud","ref":"m24","summary":"A bright patch of the Milky Way in Sagittarius, a window through the dust onto distant stars.","ra":274.2338,"dec":-18.5146,"mag":2.5,"con":"Sgr","type":"star-cloud","facts":[{"label":"Kind of object","value":"Star cloud of the Milky Way"},{"label":"Distance","value":"10,000 light years"},{"label":"Brightness","value":"Magnitude 2.5, easy to see with the eye"},{"label":"Size in the sky","value":"About 4 times the width of the full Moon"},{"label":"Constellation","value":"Sagittarius"},{"label":"Catalogue","value":"M 24, IC 4715"}],"sources":["OpenNGC, CC BY-SA 4.0","the SEDS Messier catalogue, via Wikipedia’s table of Messier objects, CC BY-SA 4.0"],"near":[["omega-nebula",2.5],["eagle-nebula",4.7],["trifid-nebula",5.6],["lagoon-nebula",6.6],["sagittarius-cluster",7]],"what":"A star cloud in Sagittarius"},
{"id":"pinwheel-galaxy","kind":"dso","name":"Pinwheel Galaxy","ref":"m101","summary":"A large face-on spiral galaxy in Ursa Major, faint to look at because its light is spread wide.","ra":210.8023,"dec":54.3489,"mag":7.9,"con":"UMa","type":"galaxy","facts":[{"label":"Kind of object","value":"Galaxy"},{"label":"Distance","value":"20.8 million light years"},{"label":"Brightness","value":"Magnitude 7.9, a sight for binoculars"},{"label":"Size in the sky","value":"About as wide as the full Moon"},{"label":"Constellation","value":"Ursa Major"},{"label":"Catalogue","value":"M 101, NGC 5457"}],"sources":["OpenNGC, CC BY-SA 4.0","the SEDS Messier catalogue, via Wikipedia’s table of Messier objects, CC BY-SA 4.0"],"near":[["alkaid",5.6],["mizar",5.7],["whirlpool-galaxy",8.9],["alioth",10],["dubhe",24.3]],"what":"A galaxy in Ursa Major"},
{"id":"black-eye-galaxy","kind":"dso","name":"Black Eye Galaxy","ref":"m64","summary":"A spiral galaxy with a dark band of dust across its bright core.","ra":194.1818,"dec":21.683,"mag":8.5,"con":"Com","type":"galaxy","facts":[{"label":"Kind of object","value":"Galaxy"},{"label":"Distance","value":"24 million light years"},{"label":"Brightness","value":"Magnitude 8.5, a sight for a small telescope"},{"label":"Size in the sky","value":"About a third of the width of the full Moon"},{"label":"Constellation","value":"Coma Berenices"},{"label":"Catalogue","value":"M 64, NGC 4826"}],"sources":["OpenNGC, CC BY-SA 4.0","the SEDS Messier catalogue, via Wikipedia’s table of Messier objects, CC BY-SA 4.0"],"near":[["coma-star-cluster",8.5],["virgo-a",11.2],["m3",12.3],["denebola",17.6],["arcturus",18.6]],"what":"A galaxy in Coma Berenices"},
{"id":"virgo-a","kind":"dso","name":"Virgo A","ref":"m87","summary":"A giant elliptical galaxy at the heart of the Virgo Cluster, whose central black hole was the first ever imaged.","ra":187.7059,"dec":12.3911,"mag":8.6,"con":"Vir","type":"galaxy","facts":[{"label":"Kind of object","value":"Galaxy"},{"label":"Distance","value":"53.5 million light years"},{"label":"Brightness","value":"Magnitude 8.6, a sight for a small telescope"},{"label":"Size in the sky","value":"About a quarter of the width of the full Moon"},{"label":"Constellation","value":"Virgo"},{"label":"Catalogue","value":"M 87, NGC 4486"}],"sources":["OpenNGC, CC BY-SA 4.0","the SEDS Messier catalogue, via Wikipedia’s table of Messier objects, CC BY-SA 4.0"],"near":[["denebola",10.4],["black-eye-galaxy",11.2],["coma-star-cluster",13.8],["m3",23.1],["sombrero-galaxy",24.1]],"what":"A galaxy in Virgo"},
{"id":"double-cluster","kind":"dso","name":"Double Cluster","ref":"ngc869","summary":"Two rich star clusters side by side between Perseus and Cassiopeia, a wonderful sight in binoculars.","ra":34.744,"dec":57.1172,"mag":3.7,"con":"Per","type":"open-cluster","facts":[{"label":"Kind of object","value":"Open star cluster"},{"label":"Distance","value":"7,460 light years"},{"label":"Brightness","value":"Magnitude 3.7, visible to the eye from a dark site, easy in binoculars"},{"label":"Size in the sky","value":"About half the width of the full Moon"},{"label":"Constellation","value":"Perseus"},{"label":"Catalogue","value":"NGC 869, NGC 884"}],"sources":["OpenNGC, CC BY-SA 4.0","Wikipedia, “Double Cluster”, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Currie et al. 2010)"],"near":[["mirfak",12.1],["algol",18],["andromeda-galaxy",22.1],["triangulum-galaxy",27.6],["capella",29.1]],"what":"An open cluster in Perseus"},
{"id":"omega-centauri","kind":"dso","name":"Omega Centauri","ref":"ngc5139","summary":"The largest and brightest globular cluster of our galaxy, millions of stars, visible to the eye as a fuzzy star.","ra":201.6912,"dec":-47.4769,"mag":3.9,"con":"Cen","type":"globular","facts":[{"label":"Kind of object","value":"Globular star cluster"},{"label":"Distance","value":"15,800 light years"},{"label":"Brightness","value":"Magnitude 3.9, visible to the eye from a dark site, easy in binoculars"},{"label":"Size in the sky","value":"About as wide as the full Moon"},{"label":"Constellation","value":"Centaurus"},{"label":"Catalogue","value":"NGC 5139"}],"sources":["OpenNGC, CC BY-SA 4.0","Wikipedia, “Omega Centauri”, CC BY-SA 4.0 (van de Ven et al. 2006; Skiff 1999)"],"near":[["centaurus-a",4.5],["gacrux",12.8],["mimosa",13.5],["jewel-box",13.7],["hadar",14]],"what":"A globular cluster in Centaurus"},
{"id":"47-tucanae","kind":"dso","name":"47 Tucanae","ref":"ngc104","summary":"The second brightest globular cluster in the sky, just beside the Small Magellanic Cloud.","ra":6.0223,"dec":-72.0814,"mag":4.09,"con":"Tuc","type":"globular","facts":[{"label":"Kind of object","value":"Globular star cluster"},{"label":"Distance","value":"14,500 light years"},{"label":"Brightness","value":"Magnitude 4.09, visible to the eye from a dark site, easy in binoculars"},{"label":"Size in the sky","value":"About as wide as the full Moon"},{"label":"Constellation","value":"Tucana"},{"label":"Catalogue","value":"NGC 104"}],"sources":["OpenNGC, CC BY-SA 4.0","Wikipedia, “47 Tucanae”, CC BY-SA 4.0: 4.45 kpc (Chen et al. 2018); V from Dalessandro et al. 2012"],"near":[["small-magellanic-cloud",2.3],["achernar",16.6],["large-magellanic-cloud",23],["canopus",40.8],["southern-pleiades",42.5]],"what":"A globular cluster in Tucana"},
{"id":"carina-nebula","kind":"dso","name":"Carina Nebula","ref":"ngc3372","summary":"A huge, bright cloud of glowing gas in the southern Milky Way, home of the restless giant star Eta Carinae.","ra":161.2855,"dec":-59.8667,"mag":1,"con":"Car","type":"nebula","facts":[{"label":"Kind of object","value":"Cloud of glowing gas (nebula)"},{"label":"Distance","value":"8,500 light years"},{"label":"Brightness","value":"Magnitude 1.0, easy to see with the eye"},{"label":"Size in the sky","value":"About 4 times the width of the full Moon"},{"label":"Constellation","value":"Carina"},{"label":"Catalogue","value":"NGC 3372"}],"sources":["OpenNGC, CC BY-SA 4.0","Wikipedia, “Carina Nebula”, CC BY-SA 4.0; magnitude SEDS"],"near":[["southern-pleiades",4.5],["acrux",12.4],["gacrux",14],["mimosa",15.3],["jewel-box",15.9]],"what":"A nebula in Carina"},
{"id":"large-magellanic-cloud","kind":"dso","name":"Large Magellanic Cloud","ref":"lmc","summary":"A companion galaxy of the Milky Way, seen from the south as a detached piece of the Milky Way.","ra":80.8938,"dec":-69.7561,"mag":0.13,"con":"Dor","type":"galaxy","facts":[{"label":"Kind of object","value":"Galaxy"},{"label":"Distance","value":"163,000 light years"},{"label":"Brightness","value":"Magnitude 0.13, easy to see with the eye"},{"label":"Size in the sky","value":"About 20 times the width of the full Moon"},{"label":"Constellation","value":"Dorado"},{"label":"Catalogue","value":"ESO 56-115"}],"sources":["OpenNGC, CC BY-SA 4.0","Wikipedia, “Large Magellanic Cloud”, CC BY-SA 4.0: 49.97 kpc (Pietrzyński et al. 2019); V from NED"],"near":[["canopus",18.4],["small-magellanic-cloud",20.7],["47-tucanae",23],["achernar",26.8],["southern-pleiades",29.3]],"what":"A galaxy in Dorado"},
{"id":"small-magellanic-cloud","kind":"dso","name":"Small Magellanic Cloud","ref":"smc","summary":"A smaller companion galaxy of the Milky Way, a faint cloud to the eye in southern skies.","ra":13.1866,"dec":-72.8286,"mag":2.7,"con":"Tuc","type":"galaxy","facts":[{"label":"Kind of object","value":"Galaxy"},{"label":"Distance","value":"203,700 light years"},{"label":"Brightness","value":"Magnitude 2.7, easy to see with the eye"},{"label":"Size in the sky","value":"About 9 times the width of the full Moon"},{"label":"Constellation","value":"Tucana"},{"label":"Catalogue","value":"NGC 292"}],"sources":["OpenNGC, CC BY-SA 4.0","Wikipedia, “Small Magellanic Cloud”, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Graczyk et al. 2020); V from NED"],"near":[["47-tucanae",2.3],["achernar",16.2],["large-magellanic-cloud",20.7],["canopus",38.5],["southern-pleiades",41.1]],"what":"A galaxy in Tucana"},
{"id":"jewel-box","kind":"dso","name":"Jewel Box","ref":"ngc4755","summary":"A small, bright cluster beside the Southern Cross, with one orange star among the blue.","ra":193.4045,"dec":-60.3563,"mag":4.2,"con":"Cru","type":"open-cluster","facts":[{"label":"Kind of object","value":"Open star cluster"},{"label":"Distance","value":"6,500 light years"},{"label":"Brightness","value":"Magnitude 4.2, visible to the eye from a dark site, easy in binoculars"},{"label":"Size in the sky","value":"About a quarter of the width of the full Moon"},{"label":"Constellation","value":"Crux"},{"label":"Catalogue","value":"NGC 4755"}],"sources":["OpenNGC, CC BY-SA 4.0","Wikipedia, “Jewel Box (star cluster)”, CC BY-SA 4.0 (SIMBAD); magnitude SEDS"],"near":[["mimosa",1],["acrux",4.2],["gacrux",4.4],["hadar",8.7],["rigil-kentaurus",12.9]],"what":"An open cluster in Crux"},
{"id":"sculptor-galaxy","kind":"dso","name":"Sculptor Galaxy","ref":"ngc253","summary":"One of the brightest galaxies in the sky, a dusty spiral making stars at a high rate.","ra":11.888,"dec":-25.2882,"mag":8,"con":"Scl","type":"galaxy","facts":[{"label":"Kind of object","value":"Galaxy"},{"label":"Distance","value":"11.4 million light years"},{"label":"Brightness","value":"Magnitude 8.0, a sight for binoculars"},{"label":"Size in the sky","value":"About as wide as the full Moon"},{"label":"Constellation","value":"Sculptor"},{"label":"Catalogue","value":"NGC 253"}],"sources":["OpenNGC, CC BY-SA 4.0","Wikipedia, “Sculptor Galaxy”, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Rekola et al. 2005); V from NED"],"near":[["fomalhaut",24.7],["achernar",33.2],["47-tucanae",46.9],["small-magellanic-cloud",47.5],["triangulum-galaxy",57]],"what":"A galaxy in Sculptor"},
{"id":"hyades","kind":"dso","name":"Hyades","ref":"mel25","summary":"The nearest star cluster to the Sun, the V-shaped face of Taurus the bull.","ra":66.725,"dec":15.8667,"mag":0.5,"con":"Tau","type":"open-cluster","facts":[{"label":"Kind of object","value":"Open star cluster"},{"label":"Distance","value":"153 light years"},{"label":"Brightness","value":"Magnitude 0.5, easy to see with the eye"},{"label":"Size in the sky","value":"About 10 times the width of the full Moon"},{"label":"Constellation","value":"Taurus"},{"label":"Catalogue","value":"Mel 25"}],"sources":["OpenNGC, CC BY-SA 4.0","Wikipedia, “Hyades (star cluster)”, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Perryman et al. 1998)"],"near":[["aldebaran",2.3],["pleiades",12.4],["crab-nebula",17.1],["bellatrix",17.1],["elnath",18.7]],"what":"An open cluster in Taurus"},
{"id":"coma-star-cluster","kind":"dso","name":"Coma Star Cluster","ref":"mel111","summary":"A large, loose spray of stars in Coma Berenices, at its best to the eye or in binoculars.","ra":186.275,"dec":26.1,"mag":1.8,"con":"Com","type":"open-cluster","facts":[{"label":"Kind of object","value":"Open star cluster"},{"label":"Distance","value":"280 light years"},{"label":"Brightness","value":"Magnitude 1.8, easy to see with the eye"},{"label":"Size in the sky","value":"About 8 times the width of the full Moon"},{"label":"Constellation","value":"Coma Berenices"},{"label":"Catalogue","value":"Mel 111"}],"sources":["OpenNGC, CC BY-SA 4.0","Wikipedia, “Coma Star Cluster”, CC BY-SA 4.0 (van Leeuwen 2009)"],"near":[["black-eye-galaxy",8.5],["virgo-a",13.8],["denebola",14.3],["m3",17.3],["whirlpool-galaxy",24.7]],"what":"An open cluster in Coma Berenices"},
{"id":"southern-pleiades","kind":"dso","name":"Southern Pleiades","ref":"ic2602","summary":"A bright cluster of blue stars in Carina, the southern match of the Pleiades.","ra":160.7395,"dec":-64.3942,"mag":1.9,"con":"Car","type":"open-cluster","facts":[{"label":"Kind of object","value":"Open star cluster"},{"label":"Distance","value":"486 light years"},{"label":"Brightness","value":"Magnitude 1.9, easy to see with the eye"},{"label":"Size in the sky","value":"About 2 times the width of the full Moon"},{"label":"Constellation","value":"Carina"},{"label":"Catalogue","value":"IC 2602"}],"sources":["OpenNGC, CC BY-SA 4.0","Wikipedia, “IC 2602”, CC BY-SA 4.0 (SIMBAD); magnitude SEDS"],"near":[["carina-nebula",4.5],["acrux",11.5],["gacrux",14.9],["mimosa",15.2],["jewel-box",15.5]],"what":"An open cluster in Carina"},
{"id":"centaurus-a","kind":"dso","name":"Centaurus A","ref":"ngc5128","summary":"A bright galaxy crossed by a dark band of dust, one of the strongest sources of radio waves in the sky.","ra":201.3651,"dec":-43.0191,"mag":6.84,"con":"Cen","type":"galaxy","facts":[{"label":"Kind of object","value":"Galaxy"},{"label":"Distance","value":"12 million light years"},{"label":"Brightness","value":"Magnitude 6.84, a sight for binoculars"},{"label":"Size in the sky","value":"About as wide as the full Moon"},{"label":"Constellation","value":"Centaurus"},{"label":"Catalogue","value":"NGC 5128"}],"sources":["OpenNGC, CC BY-SA 4.0","Wikipedia, “Centaurus A”, CC BY-SA 4.0: 11 to 13 million ly, middle of the range (Tonry et al. 2001); V SIMBAD"],"near":[["omega-centauri",4.5],["gacrux",16.5],["mimosa",17.6],["jewel-box",18],["hadar",18.3]],"what":"A galaxy in Centaurus"}]