Carina (constellation)

Carina (constellation)

Infobox Constellation
name = Carina
abbreviation = Car
genitive = Carinae
symbology = the Keel (of the Argo Navis)
RA = 9
dec= −60
areatotal = 494
arearank = 34th
numbermainstars = 9
numberbfstars = 52
numberstarsplanets = 6
numberbrightstars = 5
numbernearbystars = 0
brighteststarname = Canopus (α Car)
starmagnitude = −0.7
neareststarname = I Car
stardistance = 52.9
numbermessierobjects = 0
meteorshowers = Alpha Carinids
Eta Carinids
bordering = Vela
Puppis
Pictor
Volans
Chamaeleon
Musca
Centaurus
latmax = 20
latmin = 90
month = March
notes=

Carina (pron-en|kəˈraɪnə, [OED] _la. keel) is a southern constellation which forms part of the old constellation of Argo Navis. It contains Canopus, the second brightest star in the night sky, and the supermassive star η Carinae which is embedded in the giant Eta Carinae Nebula (NGC 3372).

Notable features

Since the Milky Way runs through Carina, there are a large number of open clusters in the constellation. These include NGC 2516 and IC 2602, the latter popularly known as the "Southern Pleiades." The most notable object in Carina is Homunculus Nebula in NGC 3372, the Eta Carinae Nebula. It is a planetary nebula visible to the naked eye that is being ejected by the erratic variable star Eta Carinae, one of the Milky Way's largest stars and one not far from becoming a supernova. NGC 3532 is a large binocular cluster having about 150 stars. Carina also contains the naked-eye globular cluster NGC 2808. Epsilon Carinae and Upsilon Carinae are double stars visible in small telescopes. Carina contains the radiant of the Eta Carinids meteor shower, which peaks around January 21 each year.

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

* [http://www.allthesky.com/constellations/crux/ The Deep Photographic Guide to the Constellations: Carina]
* [http://www.starrynightphotos.com/constellations/carina.htm Starry Night Photography: Carina]
* [http://www.willig.net/index.php?option=com_gallery2&Itemid=26&g2_itemId=148 Eta Carina Nebula by Thomas Willig]
* [http://www.ianridpath.com/startales/carina.htm Star Tales – Carina]


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем решить контрольную работу

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Carina Nebula — An image of NGC 3372 taken with an amateur telescope Observation data: J2000.0 epoch Type Emission …   Wikipedia

  • Carina — may refer to:* Carina (constellation) * Carina Dwarf, a dwarf galaxy orbiting the Milky Way * Carinatae, a term within phylogenetic taxonomy referring to birds * USS Carina (AK 74) * Carina (anatomy), a ridge in the sagittal plane of the trachea… …   Wikipedia

  • Carina Dwarf — Infobox Galaxy caption = name = Carina Dwarf Spheroidal epoch = J2000 type = E3cite web title=NASA/IPAC Extragalactic Database work=Results for Carina Dwarf Spheroidal url=http://nedwww.ipac.caltech.edu/ accessdate=2006 11 29 ] ra = RA|06|41|36.7 …   Wikipedia

  • Constellation de la Carène — Carène (constellation) Pour les articles homonymes, voir Carène. Carène …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Carina — [kə rī′nə, kərē′nə] n. a S constellation between Vela and Pictor containing the bright star Canopus: see ARGO (sense 2) …   English World dictionary

  • Constellation — This article is about the star grouping. For other uses, see Constellation (disambiguation). The constellation Orion is one of the most recognizable in the night sky. In modern astronomy, a constellation is an internationally defined area of the… …   Wikipedia

  • Constellation Family — For East Asian and Chinese constellation groupings, see Chinese constellations. Constellation Families[1][2][3][4][3] (singularly as Constellation Family) …   Wikipedia

  • Constellation de la Poupe — Poupe (constellation) Pour les articles homonymes, voir Poupe. Poupe …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Constellation du Peintre — Peintre (constellation) Pour les articles homonymes, voir Peintre. Peintre …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Constellation du Navire Argo — Navire Argo (constellation) Le Navire Argo (latin, Argo Navis) était une énorme constellation, parmi celles décrites par Aratos[1], puis par Ptolémée. Cette constellation représentait l Argo, le navire utilisé par Jason et les Argonautes. L… …   Wikipédia en Français

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”