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Monoceros

Monoceros

1 9.9
A faint constellation in the northern sky between Orion and Hydra
  • proper noun
  • /məˈnɒsərəs/
translation icon : Monoceros
  • The faint constellation Monoceros is located between Orion and Hydra in the northern sky.
  • the constellation Monoceros
  • NGC 2244 in Monoceros

Examples

  • In the night sky, Monoceros can be spotted rising below the brighter constellation Orion.

  • PHOTO (BLACK & WHITE): A portion of the Southern Milky Way from the constellation Aquila (far left, this page) through Monoceros (far right, facing page).

    Academic text (1991)
  • Victim 117, Yu Fook Law, Monoceros Universe.

  • Even a cup of coffee (Solar Eclipse) and a cup of tea (merging two dogs in Monoceros) address the story.

    Blog text (12)
  • The star NGC 2346 is found within the boundaries of the constellation Monoceros.

Compounds

Monodon monoceros
  • Specialized
9.3

The scientific name of the narwhal, a large Arctic whale whose males have a long spiral tusk

Surface Forms

Monoceros main

Morphology

Monoceros = mono + ceros

The constellation name comes from the same classical form, but modern English speakers cannot infer the astronomical referent from the parts alone.

Etymology

Monoceros comes from the Greek parts mono- ('one') and -ceros ('horn'), and old star maps used this name for a group of stars shown as a one-horned animal. So, the constellation Monoceros is the part of the sky named for that single-horned creature.