Lepus (constellation)

Lepus

Constellation
List of stars in Lepus
Abbreviation	Lep
Genitive	Leporis
Pronunciation	/ˈliːpəs/, or colloquially /ˈlɛpəs/; genitive /ˈlɛpərɨs/
Symbolism	the Hare
Right ascension	6 h
Declination	−20°
Quadrant	NQ2
Area	290 sq. deg. (51st)
Main stars	8
Bayer/Flamsteed stars	20
Stars with planets	1
Stars brighter than 3.00m	2
Stars within 10.00 pc (32.62 ly)	3
Brightest star	α Lep (Arneb) (2.58m)
Nearest star	Gliese 229 (18.83 ly, 5.77 pc)
Messier objects	1
Meteor showers	None
Bordering constellations	Orion Monoceros Canis Major Columba Caelum Eridanus
Visible at latitudes between +63° and −90°. Best visible at 21:00 (9 p.m.) during the month of January.

Lepus ( /ˈliːpəs/, colloquially /ˈlɛpəs/) is a constellation lying just south of the celestial equator, immediately south of Orion. Its name is Latin for hare. Although the hare does not represent any particular figure in Greek mythology, Lepus was one of the 48 constellations listed by the 2nd century astronomer Ptolemy, and it remains one of the 88 modern constellations. It is located below the constellation Orion (the hunter), and is sometimes represented as a hare being chased by Orion or, alternatively, by Orion's hunting dogs.

This constellation should not be confused with Lupus, the wolf.

Asterism

Four stars of this constellation (α, β, γ, δ Lep) form a quadrilateral and are known as ‘Arsh al-Jawzā', "the Throne of Jawzā'" or Kursiyy al-Jawzā' al-Mu'akhkhar, "the Hindmost Chair of Jawzā'" and al-Nihāl, "the Camels Quenching Their Thirst" in Arabic.

Notable features

• R Leporis is a Mira variable and also known as Hind's Crimson Star.
• T Leporis is also a Mira variable observed in detail by ESO's Very Large Telescope Interferometer.

There is one Messier Object in Lepus, M79. This is a faint globular cluster with a magnitude of around 8^m.56.

References

• Allen, R. H. (1899). Star-names and Their Meanings. New York: G. E. Stechart. 
• Kunitzsch, P.; Smart T. (2006). A Dictionary of Modern Star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Ther Derivations. Cambridge (USA): Sky Publishing Corp.. 
• Ian Ridpath and Wil Tirion (2007). Stars and Planets Guide, Collins, London. ISBN 978-0007251209. Princeton University Press, Princeton. ISBN 978-0691135564.

External links

The star T Leporis as seen with VLTI.
Credit: ESO/J.-B. Le Bouquin et al.

• Hundred metre virtual telescope captures unique detailed colour image — ESO's Organisational Release
• The Deep Photographic Guide to the Constellations: Lepus
• Star Tales – Lepus