Pegasus is a large ,well-populated constellation with several points of interest, including 51 Pegasi, which is thought to have a planet in orbit. A number of extragalactic phenomena are also to be found here: NGC 7331, for example, is a spiral galaxy with a structure very similar to our own Milky Way. Pegasus, the winged horse, can be seen at the southern middle sky in autumn, and is conspicuous constellation that includes the "Great Square of Pegasus". All of four stars are generally second or third magnitude, but the vast asterism is fairly obvious because the bright stars hardly can be found around this field. The each side of the square is nearly parallel to each direction, so it's a good guide to identify the other constellations in autumn skies. The Pegasus flew out of the blood of Medusa when Perseus slew her, and being upside down when you gaze at Pegasus turning south.
Globular Cluster's In Pegasus
M15 (NGC7078)
M15 (NGC7078) is a globular cluster found at the nose of Pegasus, about 4 degrees NW of epsilon Pegasi. The cluster is a medium sized one with a diameter of 12 arc minutes and looks like a coma of comet with magnitude of 6. A medium-sized telescope should be needed to resolve the individual stars. You can find a star of 6th magnitude just 17 arc minutes east of the cluster, these two objects have almost same brightness. It's slightly contrastive between the star and the dimmed cluster. In autumnal southern sky, there is another major globular cluster of M2 in Aquarius about 13 degrees south of M15. M15 and M2 are positioned at almost same right ascension, and they have almost same size and brightness, look like the "Twin" globular clusters.
Galaxies In Pegasus
NGC 7331
We can find a tiny galaxy of NGC7331 about 9 degrees NW of beta Pegasi, locating at the north west star of Pegasus's square. The galaxy shows us a bit slant from being edge-on, nearly same angle with the Andromeda Galaxy (M31). And it's detectable a crossing dark lane on pictures with long-exposure. You can appreciate a bright nucleus and surrounding fine light through medium-sized telescopes. This star field contains many other small galaxies, and you can find a very famous compact group of galaxies, "Stephan's quintet" nearly 30 arc minutes south of NGC7331.
NGC 7814
NGC 7814 a beautiful galaxy in Pegasus
NGC 7177
NGC 7177 - A small, moderately bright galaxy, 3'x1' in size, oriented NE-SW. It has a definite central bulge about 1' in diameter, a stellar nucleus, and is broadly concentrated to the center.
NGC 7332
NGC 7332 - A small, but very nice edge-on spiral. It is about 4'x7', oriented NE-SW, sharply brighter to the center, has a stellar nucleus, and a definite central bulge. A much fainter companion (NGC 7339) lies 10' to the east, and is 4'x'1', oriented E-W, and is only very slightly brighter to the center.
NGC 7479
NGC 7479 - Large, 5-6'x3', extended NNW-SSE, with a slightly brighter center. There is a 13th magnitude star seemingly imbedded in its northern tip. The tips of the galaxy show hints of curving slightly, indicating that it is a barred spiral.
NGC 7217
This galaxy NGC 7217 has very tight spiral "structure"- however, no one feature extends long enough to be a spiral arm. This galaxy sports a curious ring of dust (dark circle) that surrounds the nucleus. It is estimated that this galaxy is around 41 million light years away. Note the very subtle difference in color between the inner yellowish region is outer bluish arms.
Planetary Systems In Pegasus
HD 196050 (G4 V)
The Star
51 Pegasi, 50 light years away, is a fifth magnitude (5.49, just short of sixth magnitude) star 1.3 times more luminous than the Sun. The class of the star is uncertain. It is sometimes listed as a G2 subgiant (a somewhat evolved kind of star with a temperature of 5800 Kelvin, about that of the Sun) and sometimes as a G5 ordinary dwarf, one that, like the Sun, fuses hydrogen into helium in its core. The planet is the first one found by the Doppler (velocity) technique.The Planet
The circle shows the location of the sunlike class G star 51 Pegasi (in the constellation Pegasus). Its planet orbits in a mere 4.23 days (only 5 percent the period of Mercury around the Sun), has at least 0.47 times the mass of Jupiter, and is 0.05 astronomical units from the star. That is only 7.5 million kilometers, 4.6 million miles, or 13 percent Mercury's distance from the Sun.HD 209458 (G0V)
Parent Star: HD 209458 (G0V ) in the constellation of Pegasus is located at a distance of 153.55 Light Years from our Solar system Co-ordinates of Right Ascension: 22 03 10.7 & Declination: 18 53 04. The apparent Magnitude of the star is 7.65. The Inner Edge of Habitability Zone is 0.7 AU & the Outer Edge of Habitability Zone: 2.18 AU. Orbiting around HD 209458 is planet HD 209458 b the planet is believed to be a cloudy hot jupiter and its exitence has been confirmed. The Planets Appearance is silicate clouds over dark sodium haze. The planet is positioned at the inner edge of Habitability Zone at Mean Orbital Distance of 1.58 AU. The planet Orbits around the star every 639 Days and was discovered by Marcy et al, in 2005.
