In the Spring time, when we stand outside and observe the constellations, we can observe galaxies beyond our own because we are looking up and out of the plane of the galactic disk. In fact we can see the location of the North Galactic Pole. (see planisphere).
The North Galactic Pole is not far from our featured Coma Star Cloud in Coma Berenices.
Can we see the South Galactic Pole in Autumn as the Earth proceeds around in its orbit along the path of the planets?
In short the answer is Yes.
Given our latitude of 45 degrees, and the inclination of the plane of the galaxy to our orbital plane, that we should see the South Galactic Pole. Here are the coordinates for the North and South Galactic Pole in Right Ascension and Declination
| Galactic Pole | right ascension | declination | constellation |
| north pole (+90° latitude) | 12h 49m(12h 51.4m) | +27°.4(+27°.13) | Coma Berenices |
| south pole (−90° latitude) | 0h 49m(0h 51.4m) | −27.4°(−27.13°) | Sculptor |
Image courtesy http://www.therlen.co.za/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/GalacticVsPlanetPlane.jpg
In the Fall, say 11PM mid-Octoher, we can see down to the South Galactic Pole. Above, our planisphere marks the approximate location of the South Galactic Pole just under constellation Cetus the Whale .
Although we can see the South Galactic Pole from our latitude, we cannot see the South Celestial Pole. For we can only see down to a declination the amount of our co-latitude ( -45 degrees) from the Celestial Equator.
Here is a southern star map showing the stars in the Southern Constellations that never get above our horizon. Interestingly, there is no equivalent pole star like Polaris to mark the approximation location of the South Celestial Pole.
