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Important Facts About the Unicorn Constellation

The constellation Monoceros, also known as the unicorn constellation, was officially charted by German astronomer Jakob Bartsch in 1624. Scientists have found evidence that the constellation was mentioned as early as the mid-1500s by historian Joseph Justus Scaliger. Monoceros was adopted by the International Astronomical Union in 1930 and remains on its list of 88 constellations, at the time of publication.

The Constellation
- Monoceros, whose name translates to "unicorn," is a relatively dim constellation that is comprised of four main stars and is bordered by several constellations, including Gemini, Hydra and Orion. In addition to its four main stars, the constellation contains 32 other lesser stars within its borders. Monoceros spans 482 square degrees of sky and is best viewed during the month of February from 75 degrees and minus-85 degrees latitude, which encompasses much of the North and South hemispheres. Unlike other constellations, which are named for mythological characters, Monoceros has no associated mythology.
Meteor Shower
- The Monoceros constellation is associated with an annual meteor shower called the Monocerids. The shower takes place near the border of the Gemini constellation and produces about 12 meteors per hour at its peak, which is on or around December 10 of each year. Even at their peak, the Monocerids are faintly visible and are best viewed when the moon is at its dimmest or not seen at all.
Stars
- The four major stars of the Monoceros constellation include Alpha Monocerotis, Beta Monocerotis, Epsilon Monocerotis and Plaskett's Star. Alpha Monocerotis is located about 144 light years from Earth, is estimated to be 11 times the size of our sun and emits more than 60 times more energy. Beta Monocerotis is a triple star cluster that's 690 light years from Earth and gives off up to 3,200 times the energy of our sun. Epsilon Monocerotis is a double star pair situated 115 light years from Earth and is about eight times the size of our sun. Plaskett's Star is the constellation's brightest star, is approximately 100 times the size of our sun and is about 6,600 light years away.
The Unicorn
- Though the unicorn is not found in any recorded mythology, such as Greek or Roman, it is mentioned in an assortment of historical artifacts, including the Bible, religious art and natural historical findings. According to astronomers Heinrich Wilhelm Olbers and Ludwig Ideler, Monoceros may have originally been referred to as the "Second Horse" in the constellation charts of the 16th century. A unicorn is thought to be a one-horned horse that lives at the edges of Earth's celestial sphere, roaming the planet's ecliptic plane or path of orbit around the sun. It is this lore that is believed to have been the reasoning behind Monoceros' name.

Astronomy