Vela (constellation)
| Constellation | |
List of stars in Vela |
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| Abbreviation | Vel |
|---|---|
| Genitive | Velorum |
| Pronunciation | /ˈviːlə/, genitive /vɨˈlɔərəm/ |
| Symbolism | the Sails |
| Right ascension | 9 h |
| Declination | −50° |
| Quadrant | SQ2 |
| Area | 500 sq. deg. (32nd) |
| Main stars | 5 |
| Bayer/Flamsteed stars |
50 |
| Stars with planets | 5 |
| Stars brighter than 3.00m | 5 |
| Stars within 10.00 pc (32.62 ly) | 2 |
| Brightest star | γ Vel (1.75m) |
| Nearest star | Gliese 367 (32.02 ly, 9.82 pc) |
| Messier objects | 0 |
| Meteor showers | Delta Velids Gamma Velids Puppid-velids |
| Bordering constellations |
Antlia Pyxis Puppis Carina Centaurus |
| Visible at latitudes between +30° and −90°. Best visible at 21:00 (9 p.m.) during the month of March. |
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Vela is a constellation in the southern sky. Its name is Latin for the sails of a ship, and it was originally part of a larger constellation, the ship Argo Navis, which was later divided into three parts, the others being Carina and Puppis.
Contents |
Notable features
Stars
The brightest star in the constellation, γ Velorum, is a bright 1.75m supergiant star. The star is actually quintuple, the primary component is famous for being the brightest Wolf–Rayet star in the sky. This star is also sometimes called Regor, which is Roger backwards.
κ Velorum is also called Markeb.
False Cross
The False Cross is an asterism formed of the stars δ Velorum and κ Velorum and ι Carinae and ε Carinae. It is so called because it is sometimes mistaken for the Southern Cross, causing errors in astronavigation.
Deep sky objects
Of the deep sky objects of interest in Vela is a planetary nebula known as the NGC 3132 (nicknamed Eight-burst nebula). This constellation has 32 more planetary nebulae. Also, an interest within the constellation is the Vela Supernova Remnant. This is the nebula of a supernova explosion which is believed to have been visible from the Earth around 10,000 years ago. The remnant contains a pulsar which was the first pulsar to be identified optically.
The Gum Nebula is a faint emission nebula, believed to be the remains of a million year old supernova.
References
- Ian Ridpath and Wil Tirion (2007). Stars and Planets Guide, Collins, London. ISBN 978-0007251209. Princeton University Press, Princeton. ISBN 978-0691135564.
- Richard Hinckley Allen, Star Names, Their Lore and Legend, New York, Dover, various dates.
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