Vela

Vela

Constellation
List of stars in Vela
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	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.

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.

Notable features

Stars

The brightest star in the constellation, γ Velorum, is a bright 1.75^m 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.

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.

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.

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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Coordinates: 09^h 00^m 00^s, −50° 00′ 00″