What it looks like
Coma Berenices is a small, faint northern constellation between Leo and Boötes. Its brightest feature is the Coma Star Cluster (Melotte 111), a loose open cluster of stars visible to the naked eye as a shimmering patch. The constellation lies at the north galactic pole, giving an unobstructed view of distant galaxies.
Brightest stars
Coma Berenices has no first- or second-magnitude stars; its brightest, Beta Comae Berenices, sits near magnitude 4.2.
| Star | Magnitude | Distance | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beta Comae Berenices | +4.23 | 30 ly | — |
| Diadem (α Comae Berenices) | +4.32 | 58 ly | — |
| Gamma Comae Berenices | +4.35 | 170 ly | — |
| 36 Comae Berenices | +4.76 | 271 ly | — |
Mythology and history
In Greek myth, Coma Berenices is the hair of Queen Berenice II of Egypt, sacrificed to Aphrodite to ensure her husband's safe return from war.
A queen's sacrifice
Berenice II, queen of Ptolemaic Egypt, vowed to cut off her long hair and dedicate it to Aphrodite if her husband Ptolemy III returned safely from war. He did, and she kept her promise. The hair disappeared from the temple, and the court astronomer Conon of Samos declared that Aphrodite had placed it among the stars. The Greek poet Callimachus wrote a famous poem about the lock, which survives in a Latin translation by Catullus. The constellation is one of the few in the sky named for a real historical person.
How to find it
Look for a hazy patch of stars between Leo's tail and Boötes on spring evenings — that's the Coma Star Cluster.
- Find Leo's tail star Denebola, then look east for the shimmering patch.
- The Coma Star Cluster is visible to the naked eye under dark skies.
- Best on spring evenings from both hemispheres.
Key facts
- Abbreviation
- Com
- Genitive
- Comae Berenices
- Meaning
- Berenice's Hair
- Brightest star
- Beta Comae Berenices
- Main stars
- 4
- Area rank
- 42nd
- Best visible
- May
- Declination
- +25°
- Meteor showers
- Comae Berenicids
- Neighbours
- Canes Venatici, Ursa Major, Leo, Virgo, Boötes
Deep-sky objects
The Coma Cluster is a dense cluster of over 1,000 galaxies about 320 million light-years away, part of the larger Coma Supercluster. The constellation also contains the Black Eye Galaxy (M64) and the Needle Galaxy (NGC 4565), and lies at the north galactic pole — giving a clear view out of the Milky Way's plane.
Frequently asked questions
What does the constellation Coma Berenices look like?
Coma Berenices is a faint northern constellation representing Queen Berenice's sacrificed hair, and contains the Coma Cluster of galaxies and the north galactic pole.
What is the brightest star in Coma Berenices?
The brightest star in Coma Berenices is Beta Comae Berenices, shining at around magnitude 4.23.
When is Coma Berenices best visible?
Coma Berenices is best seen from both hemispheres during May.
What is the story behind Coma Berenices?
In Greek myth, Coma Berenices is the hair of Queen Berenice II of Egypt, sacrificed to Aphrodite to ensure her husband's safe return from war.
Which constellations are near Coma Berenices?
Coma Berenices borders Canes Venatici, Ursa Major, Leo, Virgo and Boötes.
Leo
Boötes