Lupus

Lupus

Constellation
List of stars in Lupus
Abbreviation	Lup
Genitive	Lupi
Pronunciation	/ˈljuːpəs/, genitive /ˈljuːpaɪ/
Symbolism	the Wolf
Right ascension	15.3
Declination	−45
Area	334 sq. deg. (46th)
Main stars	9
Bayer/Flamsteed stars	41
Stars with known planets	2
Bright stars	3
Nearby stars	1
Brightest star	α Lupi (2.3m)
Nearest star	GJ 588 (19.4 ly)
Messier objects	0
Bordering constellations	Norma Scorpius Circinus Centaurus Libra Hydra (corner)
Visible at latitudes between +35° and −90°. Best visible at 21:00 (9 p.m.) during the month of June.

Lupus is a constellation in the southern sky. Its name is Latin for wolf. Lupus was one of the 48 constellations, listed by the 2nd century astronomer Ptolemy, and it remains one of the 88 modern constellations. It lies between Centaurus and Scorpius.

Notable features

Stars

Lupus has no extremely bright stars, but has around thirty stars of second and third magnitude and 70 of greater than sixth, including a number of binary or multiple stars. Among the stars which make up the constellation figure, only a few are named stars, the brightest is α Lupi, or Men, a blue giant. β Lupi has the name Ke Kouan.

Most of the brightest stars in Lupus are massive members of the nearest OB association: Scorpius-Centaurus^[1].

Deep sky objects

Towards the north of the constellation are globular clusters NGC 5824 and NGC 5986, and close by the dark nebula B 228. Two open clusters are to the south of the constellation, NGC 5822 and NGC 5749. On the western border are two spiral galaxies and the Wolf-Rayet planetary nebula IC 4406, containing some of the hottest stars in existence. Another planetary nebula, NGC 5882, is towards the centre of the constellation. The transiting exoplanet Lupus-TR-3b lies in this constellation. The historic supernova SN 1006 is described by various sources as appearing on April 30-May 1, 1006 in the constellation of Lupus.

Mythology and history

In ancient times, the constellation was considered an asterism within Centaurus, and was considered to have been an arbitrary animal, killed, or about to be killed, on behalf of, or for, Centaurus.^{[citation needed]} It was not separated from Centaurus until Hipparchus of Bithynia named it Therion (meaning beast) in the 200s BC. No particular animal was associated with it until the Latin translation of Ptolemy's work identified it with the wolf.

References

• Ian Ridpath and Wil Tirion (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: Lupus

• Star Tales – Lupus

Coordinates: 15^h 18^m 00^s, −45° 00′ 00″