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Cygnus

Cygnus

5 9.7
A group of stars in the northern sky shaped like a swan
  • proper noun
  • /ˈsɪɡnəs/
  • Specialized
translation icon : Cygnus
  • In March 2010, a previously unknown bright gamma-ray source appeared in the constellation Cygnus and then faded away about two weeks later.
  • constellation Cygnus
  • Cygnus X-1

Examples

  • And so we'll aim it at the Cygnus constellation where there are thousands, hundreds of thousands of stars and hope to monitor the brightnesses.

  • Look for the constellation Cygnus, shaped like a swan, in the night sky during the summer months.

  • One object, Cygnus X-1, gave strong evidence of being a black hole.

    Academic text (1991)
  • Cygnus A was soon recognized as the brightest discrete radio source in the sky.

    Academic text (1991)
  • While conducting a survey of the broad distribution of galactic radiation, Hey and his co-workers found a region in Cygnus that was extremely bright.

    Academic text (1991)
  • In February 1992, a faint star in the constellation of Cygnus suddenly brightened for a short time before beginning to fade.

    Academic text (1994)
  • There you will find Orion, Cassiopeia, and Cygnus, along with the stars Alphard and Pollux.

    Academic text (2007)
  • One of them was in the constellation Cygnus, called Cygnus X-1, where optical astronomers found a bright blue supergiant star that was whirling around an unseen object every 5.6 days.

    Academic text (1991)
  • Astronomers have identified a black hole within the constellation Cygnus that draws the attention of stargazers.

  • The constellation Cygnus is notable for its bright stars and unique shape, resembling a flying swan.

Compounds

Cygnus columbianus
  • Specialized
9.9

A medium-sized white swan that nests on Arctic tundra and flies far south for winter

A small white tundra swan in Europe and Asia with a yellow and black bill

A North American swan that makes a soft whistling call

Cygnus cygnus
  • Specialized
9.9

A large white swan that makes a loud trumpet call

Cygnus olor
  • Specialized
9.9

A large white swan from Europe and Asia often kept in parks and usually quiet

Cygnus atratus
  • Australian
9.9

A large Australian swan with black feathers and a red beak

Cygnus buccinator
  • Specialized
9.9

A large white wild swan with a loud trumpet call from western North America

genus Cygnus
  • Specialized
9.1

A group of large water birds that includes all true swans

Surface Forms

Cygnus main

Etymology

Cygnus the constellation takes its name from the Latin word cygnus meaning 'swan' because its stars make a long shape like a swan flying and it is often called the Northern Cross. So the name reminds you that the star pattern looks like a bird in the sky.