Ara

Ara

Constellation
List of stars in Ara
Abbreviation	Ara
Genitive	Arae
Pronunciation	/ˈɛərə/, genitive /ˈɛəriː/[1]
Symbolism	the Altar
Right ascension	17.39
Declination	−53.58
Area	237 sq. deg. (63rd)
Main stars	7
Bayer/Flamsteed stars	17
Stars with known planets	4
Bright stars	2
Nearby stars	4
Brightest star	β Ara (2.9m)
Nearest star	Gliese 674 (14.8 ly)
Messier objects	0
Meteor showers	None
Bordering constellations	Corona Australis Scorpius Norma Triangulum Australe Apus Pavo Telescopium
Visible at latitudes between +25° and −90°. Best visible at 21:00 (9 p.m.) during the month of July.

Ara is a southern constellation situated between Scorpius and Triangulum Australe. Its name is Latin for altar. Ara was one of Ptolemy's original 48 Greek constellations, and it is now one of the 88 constellations defined by the International Astronomical Union.

Notable features

Stars

See also: List of stars in Ara

Ara's brightest star, β Arae, has an apparent magnitude of 2.9. γ Arae is a double star just south of β. μ Arae is believed to have at least four planets orbiting it, one of which may be rocky in nature.^{[citation needed]}

The constellation's stars have no names in Western culture, but the Chinese call α Arae Choo (club or staff), and ε Arae Tso Kang, meaning 'left guard'.^{[citation needed]}

Deep sky objects

The northwest corner of Ara is crossed by the Milky Way and contains several open clusters and diffuse nebulae. The brightest of the globular clusters, NGC 6397, is 8,200 light-years (7.8×10¹⁶ km) from our solar system and might be the closest cluster of that kind.^{[citation needed]}

Illustrations

Johann Elert Bode's illustration of Ara, from his Uranographia (1801)

In illustrations, Ara is usually depicted as an altar with its smoke 'rising' southward.^[2]

Mythology

In ancient Greek mythology, Ara was identified as the altar of Lycaon. Lycaon sacrificed a child (according to one legend, it was Arcas) to Zeus on the altar on mount Lycaeus, and immediately after the sacrifice was turned into a wolf, which may have also formed the basis for the myth of the constellation Lupus. In other Greek tales, Ara was identified with the altar of the god of wine, Dionysus, or with that of the centaur Chiron; its original Latin name was Ara Centauri.^{[citation needed]}

References

Bibliography

• Ridpath, Ian; and Tirion, Wil (2007). Stars and Planets Guide, Collins, London. ISBN 978-0007251209. Princeton University Press, Princeton. ISBN 978-0691135564.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Ara

• The Deep Photographic Guide to the Constellations: Ara
• NightSkyInfo.com: Constellation Ara
• WIKISKY.ORG: Ara
• Star Tales – Ara

Coordinates: 17^h 23^m 24^s, −53° 34′ 48″