Coma Berenices: Berenice’s Hair
Pronunciation: COE-muh BER-uh-NICE-eez
| Coma Berenices Constellation Profile | |
|---|---|
| Abbreviation: Com | Genitive: Coma Berenices |
| Origin: Ancient | Location: Northern Hemisphere |
| Best View (North): Spring | Best View (South): |
| Bordering Constellations: Canes Venatici, Ursa Major, Leo, Virgo, Bootes | |
The Myth Behind the Constellation Coma Berenices
The story of Coma Berenices, “Berenices Hair” involves real historical people. In the third century B.C. Ptolemy III Euergetes of Egypt was heading out to battle the Assyrians. His wife, Queen Berenices II, promised to sacrifice her long, beautiful hair to Aphrodite if her husband returned safely. He did. Berenice cut her hair off and placed it in the temple, as promised. The next day the hair was missing from the temple, enraging the king. He was about to have the temple guards put to death when the court astronomer pointed out a group of stars, saying that Aphrodite was so happy with the gift that she put Berenice’s tresses in the sky.Coma Berenices Constellation Points of Interest
| Interesting Objects in the Constellation Coma Berenices | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Messier | NGC | Type | Visibility |
| M53 | NGC 5024 | Globular Cluster | Binoculars | |
| Black-Eye Galaxy | M64 | NGC 4826 | Spiral Galaxy | Small Scope |
| M85 | NGC 4382 | Lenticular Galaxy | Small Scope | |
| M88 | NGC 4501 | Spiral Galaxy | Small Scope | |
| M91 | NGC 4548 | Barred Spiral Galaxy | Small Scope | |
| M98 | NGC 4192 | Spiral Galaxy | Small Scope | |
| M99 | NGC 4254 | Spiral Galaxy | Small Scope | |