Vela (constellation)
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| List of stars in Vela | |
| Abbreviation: | Vel |
| Genitive: | Velorum |
| Symbology: | the Sails |
| Right ascension: | 9 h |
| Declination: | −50° |
| Area: | 500 sq. deg. (32nd) |
| Main stars: | 5 |
| Bayer/Flamsteed stars: | 50 |
| Stars known to have planets: | 3 |
| 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 (pronounced /ˈviːlə/, Latin: sails) is a southern constellation, one of the four parts into which Argo Navis was split (the others being Carina, Puppis and Pyxis).
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[edit] Notable features
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, of an onknown origin.
κ Velorum is also called Markeb.
λ Velorum is also called Suhail, Arabic for lucky. The constellation Vela is in the west sky.
[edit] Notable 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). Also of 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] History
Vela is one of the four constellations that made up the old constellation of Argo Navis, the ship of the Argonauts: Vela is the sail.
[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 sometimes mistaken for the Southern Cross, causing errors in astronavigation.
[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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