Microscopium

Microscopium

Constellation
List of stars in Microscopium
Abbreviation	Mic
Genitive	Microscopii
Pronunciation	/ˌmaɪkrəˈskɒpiəm/, genitive /ˌmaɪkrəˈskɒpiaɪ/
Symbolism	the Microscope
Right ascension	21h
Declination	−36°
Quadrant	SQ4
Area	210 sq. deg. (66th)
Main stars	5
Bayer/Flamsteed stars	13
Stars with planets	2
Stars brighter than 3.00m	0
Stars within 10.00 pc (32.62 ly)	2
Brightest star	γ Mic (4.67m)
Messier objects	0
Meteor showers	Microscopids
Bordering constellations	Capricornus Sagittarius Telescopium (corner) Indus Grus Piscis Austrinus
Visible at latitudes between +45° and −90°. Best visible at 21:00 (9 p.m.) during the month of September.

Microscopium /ˌmaɪkrəˈskɒpiəm/ ("the Microscope") is a minor constellation in the southern celestial hemisphere, one of twelve created in the 18th century by French astronomer Nicolas-Louis de Lacaille and one of several depicting scientific instruments. The name is a Latinised form of the Greek word for microscope. Its stars are faint and hardly visible from most of the non-tropical Northern Hemisphere.

The constellation's brightest star is Gamma Microscopii of apparent magnitude 4.68, a yellow giant 2.5 times the Sun's mass located 223 ± 8 light-years distant. It passed within 1.14 and 3.45 light-years of the Sun some 3.9 million years ago, possibly disturbing the outer Solar System. Three star systems—WASP-7, AU Microscopii and HD 205739—have been determined to have planets, while other star —the Sun-like star HD 202628— has a debris disk. AU Microscopii and the binary red dwarf system AT Microscopii are probably a wide triple system and members of the Beta Pictoris moving group. Nicknamed "Speedy Mic", BO Microscopii is a star with an extremely fast rotation period of 9 hours, 7 minutes.