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Stars and Sticks| Abbreviation | Cyg |
|---|---|
| Meaning | Swan |
| Pronunciation Guide is based on “Pronouncing Astronomical Names,” published in 1943 by the American Astronomical Society. | SIG-nuss |
| Genitive The genitive is the Latin possessive form used in star names. For example, Alpha Orionis means “the Alpha of Orion.” | SIG-nye |
| Best Month | September |
| Visibility | Northern |
| Origin | AncientThese figures are rooted in the classical Greek and Mesopotamian traditions cataloged by Ptolemy in the 2nd century AD. |
| Author | PtolemyPtolemy, a 2nd-century Greco-Egyptian astronomer, cataloged the 48 classical constellations in his landmark work, the Almagest. These form the core of the 88 modern constellations recognized today. |
| Type | constellation |
| Difficulty | Easiest |
| Description | The Swan stretches across the heart of the Milky Way, its shape so clearly cross-like that it is also known as the Northern Cross. In myth Zeus disguised himself as a swan to approach Leda, resulting in the birth of Helen of Troy and the twins Castor and Pollux; others identify it as the mourning Orpheus transformed after his death. The tail of the swan is marked by Deneb — one of the most luminous stars known, an estimated 200,000 times brighter than the Sun, about 2,600 light-years away; if it were as close as Sirius it would cast shadows at night. Cygnus also contains Cygnus X-1, one of the first black hole candidates ever identified, discovered as a powerful X-ray source in 1964. |
| Asterism | Northern Cross: A large upright cross formed by the stars of the swan. |
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Monthly sky charts courtesy of What's Out Tonight? — Copyright ©2026 Ken Graun. Star charts are optimized for mid-latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere. Click a chart to view or download the PDF. For guidance on using the chart, or to purchase a planisphere and astronomy books, visit kenpress.com.
Images: NOIRLab/NSF/AURA/E. Slawik · IAU and Sky & Telescope · Stellarium — Full credits →
