Lacerta

Lacerta is a faint northern constellation resembling a zigzag line of stars. It contains the prototype BL Lacertae object (BL Lac), a type of active galactic nucleus that helped define an entire class of extragalactic objects. It lies in the Milky Way, providing a rich background.

Location in the Sky

When to Observe

Lacerta is best observed during October. It is located in the NQ4 quadrant and is primarily visible from the northern hemisphere. The constellation contains 6 main stars forming its asterism, with 35 Bayer/Flamsteed designated stars in total. Its brightest star is Alpha Lacertae.

Mythology & History

Lacerta was created by Johannes Hevelius in 1687 to fill a gap between Cygnus, Cassiopeia, and Andromeda. Several other astronomers had proposed alternative constellations for this region, but Hevelius's lizard prevailed. The constellation has no mythological background.