Corona Borealis

The Northern Crown

A small, graceful semicircle of stars, the Northern Crown, which sits between Boötes and Hercules.

Chart drawn as the sky looks when you face the constellation: north is up and east is to the left. Dot size shows brightness, and color hints at temperature. The connecting lines are one common stick figure; other traditions draw them differently.

Best season: Summer
Best months: May through August, high in the south to overhead on late spring and summer evenings
Visibility: Visible from everywhere in the United States
Abbreviation: CrB

How to find it

Look east of Arcturus for a small, almost perfect arc of about seven stars.
Alphecca is the brightest, a little off the curve.

Brightest stars

Alphecca (the jewel of the crown, also called Gemma)

What to look for

The shape: a small, delicate arc that stands out in a dark sky.
T Coronae Borealis, a star that flares into view unpredictably. Check current news before looking.

Binocular and telescope targets

T Coronae Borealis: a recurrent nova that has flared up in the past and may do so again

Using it to find other things

Corona Borealis sits beside Boötes and Hercules.

About this constellation

The Northern Crown is among the most recognizable small constellations, because its stars form such a neat curve.

One star in the crown, T Coronae Borealis, is a recurrent nova. It is normally too faint to see, but it has flared briefly in the past. Astronomers watch it closely, so check current news before looking.

Related guides

Visibility depends on your latitude, the date, and the time of night. The months above assume a typical evening from the contiguous United States, so use a planetarium app to confirm what is up tonight. Never look at the Sun through binoculars or a telescope without a proper solar filter.

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