Messier 30, also designated as NGC 7099, is a globular cluster of stars first discovered by astronomer Charles Messier in 1764. The constellation of Capricornus contains only one Messier object, namely, the globular cluster Messier 30. Capricornus belongs to the Zodiac family of constellations, along with Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpius, Sagittarius, Aquarius, and Pisces. The neighboring constellations around Capricornus are Aquarius, Aquila, Microscopium, Piscis Austrinus, and Sagittarius. Best viewed: at 21:00 (9 p.m.) during September.Right Ascension: 20 h 06 m 46 s to 21 h 59 m 04 s.The Capricornus constellation is located in the fourth quadrant of the southern hemisphere (SQ4) and can be seen at latitudes between +60 o and -90 o. Capricornus spreads out for over 414 square degrees. The constellation of Capricornus is the 40 th largest constellation in the sky, being the smallest of the 12 zodiacal constellations. In the early Bronze Age, the constellation of Capricornus marked the winter solstice, and in modern astrology, Capricorn’s rule still begins on the first day of winter. The Sumerians called it SUHUR-MASH-HA – the goat-fish, while the Babylonian star catalogs that date back to 1000 BC, mention the constellation as, – also meaning goat-fish. The story of Capricornus can be traced back to the Babylonians and the Sumerians. Despite its faintness, this constellation is associated with many myths and images that go back into antiquity. The constellation of Capricornus is the second-faintest constellation in the sky after Cancer. Many mythical creatures are associated with Capricornus, such as the deity Pan, or the goat Amalthea who suckled Zeus when he was young.Some of them are the spiral galaxy NGC 6907, or the large galaxy group HCG 87.There are many interesting deep-sky objects present in Capricornus, apart from the aforementioned Messier 30, there are also many more star clusters and galaxies.
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