Great Diamond

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Great Diamond map by WikiSky

The Great Diamond is an asterism. Astronomy popularizer Hans A. Rey called it the Virgin's Diamond. It is composed of the stars Cor Caroli (in Canes Venatici), Denebola (the tail of Leo), Spica (the wheat of Virgo), and Arcturus (in Bootes). It is somewhat larger than the Big Dipper.

Three southern stars are sometimes given their own asterism, the Spring Triangle.

Lying within the Great Diamond is the set of stars traditionally assigned to Coma Berenices. Many nearby galaxies, including galaxies within the Virgo Cluster, are located within this asterism, and some of these galaxies can easily be observed with amateur telescopes.

External links

Four-Star Sight: The Celestial Diamond (SPACE.com) 19 May 2006 06:16 am ET
[http://www.space.com/php/multimedia/imagedisplay/img_display.php?pic=060519_diamond_02.jpg&cap=SKY+MAP%3A+The+sky+at+10+p.m.+local+time+from+mid-northern+latitudes+this+time+of+year. MAP] (Space.com)

The Great Diamond on WikiSky: DSS2, SDSS, GALEX, IRAS, Hydrogen α, X-Ray, Astrophoto, Sky Map, Articles and images
Virgo's diamond

Coordinates: 12^h 54^m 00^s, +19° 00′ 00″

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