Centaurus
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Centaurus
Centaurus (sĕntôrˈəs), southern constellation located N and E of Crux, the Southern Cross. It is known especially for its bright stars Alpha Centauri and Hadar. It also contains Centaurus A, a radio galaxy, as well as a globular star cluster visible to the naked eye. Centaurus reaches its highest point in the evening sky in May.
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Centaurus
(sen-tor -ŭs) (Centaur) An extensive conspicuous constellation in the southern hemisphere almost surrounding Crux and lying partly in the Milky Way. The brightest stars, of zero magnitude, are the nearby Alpha (α) Centauri, the remote Beta (β) Centauri, and several stars of 2nd and 3rd magnitude. Proxima Centauri is the nearest star to the Sun. The area also contains the fine naked-eye globular cluster Omega (ω) Centauri (see Omega Centauri), the strong radio source Centaurus A, and the X-ray binary Centaurus X-3. Abbrev.: Cen; genitive form: Centauri; approx. position: RA 13h, dec –50°; area: 1060 sq deg.Collins Dictionary of Astronomy © Market House Books Ltd, 2006
The following article is from The Great Soviet Encyclopedia (1979). It might be outdated or ideologically biased.
Centaurus
(Centaur), a constellation of the southern hemisphere; its two brightest stars have visual magnitudes of 0.06 and 0.6. Próxima Centauri, the closest star to the sun, is located in the constellation. Centaurus is most easily seen in March and April; it is partially visible from the southern regions of the USSR.
The Great Soviet Encyclopedia, 3rd Edition (1970-1979). © 2010 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
Centaurus
[sen′tȯr·əs] (astronomy)
A constellation with right ascension 13 hours, declination 50°S. Abbreviated Cen.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific & Technical Terms, 6E, Copyright © 2003 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.