Coma Berenices (original) (raw)

Though the formal constellation of Coma Berenices (Berenices's Hair) is focussed on the Coma Berenices Cluster (seen just to the right of center), it covers much more territory, and includes. Diadem (Alpha Comae), and Beta (un-named). Of the three indicated stars, only Gamma is part of the cluster. Coma Berenices is just south of Canes Venatici, the two constellations seen to the west of Bootes. Coma Berenices contains the North Galactic Pole (NGP), the northern perpendicular to the Milky Way, which is well marked by 31 Comae, "Polaris Galacticus Borealis." The South Galactic Pole is in Sculptor.