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Corvus (constellation) - Definition and Overview |
| Related Words: Apus, Aquarius, Ara, Caelum, Cancer, Corvus, Crater, Crux, Dorado, Draco, Equuleus, Friday, Gemini, Grus, Hercules, Horologium, Hydra, Lacerta, Leo |
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Corvus (Latin for Raven/Crow) is a small southern constellation with only 11 stars visible to the naked eye (brighter than magnitude 5.5). It was one of the 48 constellations listed by Ptolemy, and also counts among the 88 modern constellations.
Notable deep sky objects
Corvus contains no Messier objects. The Ringtail peculiar galaxy consists of the possibly colliding NGC 4038 and NGC 4039, and appears to have a heart shape as seen from Terra.
Notable stars
| BD |
Names and catalog numbers |
Magnitude |
Ly away |
Comment |
| γ |
Gienah, Gienah Ghurab, HD106625 |
2.59 |
190 |
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| β |
Kraz, HD109379 |
2.65 |
96 |
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| δ |
Algorab, Algoral, Algorel, Algores, ADS 8572, HD108767 |
3.0 9.2 |
120 or 88? |
White primary star and a pale purple companion. |
| ε |
Minkar, HD105707 |
3.00 |
140 |
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| α |
Al Chiba, Al Minliar al Ghurab, Alchiba, Alchita, Alkhiba, HD105452 |
4.02 |
49 |
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| ζ |
HD107348 |
5.2 13.7 |
360 |
Double star. |
| VV |
Struve 1669, ADS 8627 |
6.0 6.0 |
278 |
Quadruple. |
| R |
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6.7 / 14.4 |
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Variable star with a 317.03 day cycle. |
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Ross 695, HIP 60559 |
12.4 |
29.64 |
Very close to Sol, with a proper motion of 2.52 seconds of arc per year. |
δ, γ, ε, and β form the 'sail' asterism; and γ and δ serve as pointers toward Spica.
Mythology
In Greek mythology, a crow serves Zeus, and is sent to fetch water, but it rests lazily on the journey, and after finally obtaining the water in a cup, takes back a water snake as well, as an excuse. According to the myth, Zeus saw through the fraud, and angrily cast the crow, cup, and snake, into the sky. The origin of this story is likely to be the juxtaposition of this constellation with those of Crater (constellation), and Hydra (constellation), in the area of the sky known as the Sea.
See Also
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