Vela (constellation)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 List of stars in Vela |
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| Abbreviation | Vel |
|---|---|
| Genitive | Velorum |
| Pronunciation | /ˈviːlə/, genitive /vɨˈlɔərəm/ |
| Symbolism | the Sails |
| Right ascension | 9 |
| Declination | −50 |
| Area | 500 sq. deg. (32nd) |
| Main stars | 5 |
| Bayer/Flamsteed stars |
50 |
| Stars with known planets |
4 |
| Bright stars | 5 |
| Nearby stars | 0 |
| Brightest star | γ Vel (1.6m) |
| Nearest star | ψ Vel (60.5 ly) |
| 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.
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[edit] Notable features
[edit] 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.
[edit] 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.
[edit] 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, a 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.
[edit] 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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