Corona Borealis
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Abbreviation: | CrB |
Genitive: | Coronae Borealis |
Symbology: | The Northern Crown |
Right ascension: | 16 h |
Declination: | +30° |
Area: | 179 sq. deg. (73rd) |
Main stars: | 6 |
Bayer/Flamsteed stars: | 22 |
Stars with known planets: | 2 |
Bright stars: | 1 |
Nearby stars: | 0 |
Brightest star: | α CrB (Alphecca or Gemma) (2.2m) |
Nearest star: | ρ CrB (56.81 ly) |
Messier objects: | 0 |
Meteor showers: | None |
Bordering constellations: | Hercules Boötes Serpens Caput |
Visible at latitudes between +90° and −50° Best visible at 21:00 (9 p.m.) during the month of July |
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Corona Borealis (IPA: /kəˈrəʊnə ˌbɒriˈɑːlɪs/, Latin: northern crown) is a small northern constellation whose main stars form a semicircular arc. It is one of the 88 modern constellations, and was also one of the 48 constellations listed by Ptolemy, who referred to the constellation as Corona. The Borealis (northern) was added later on, to contrast with Corona Australis, the southern crown.
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[edit] Notable features
It has no first magnitude stars. Its brightest star, α CrB (Alphecca, also known as Gemma) is of magnitude 2.2 (slightly variable) and is considered a member of the diffuse Ursa Major Moving Group. The constellation contains several interesting variable stars: two of the best known are R Coronae Borealis and T Coronae Borealis.
[edit] Notable deep sky objects
Corona Borealis contains no bright deep sky objects. Abell 2065 is a highly concentrated galaxy cluster containing over 400 members, the brightest of which are of 16th magnitude.
[edit] Mythology
Corona Borealis was sometimes considered to represent a crown that was given by Dionysus to Ariadne, the daughter of Minos of Crete. At other points it was considered to belong, in a sense, to Boötes, the herdsman, or the keeper of the bears. The Cheyenne tribe called it "Camp Circle" and arranged their camps in a semicircle.
[edit] See also
The 88 modern Constellations |
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Andromeda • Antlia • Apus • Aquarius • Aquila • Ara • Aries • Auriga • Boötes • Caelum • Camelopardalis • Cancer • Canes Venatici • Canis Major • Canis Minor • Capricornus • Carina • Cassiopeia • Centaurus • Cepheus • Cetus • Chamaeleon • Circinus • Columba • Coma Berenices • Corona Australis • Corona Borealis • Corvus • Crater • Crux • Cygnus • Delphinus • Dorado • Draco • Equuleus • Eridanus • Fornax • Gemini • Grus • Hercules • Horologium • Hydra • Hydrus • Indus • Lacerta • Leo • Leo Minor • Lepus • Libra • Lupus • Lynx • Lyra • Mensa • Microscopium • Monoceros • Musca • Norma • Octans • Ophiuchus • Orion • Pavo • Pegasus • Perseus • Phoenix • Pictor • Pisces • Piscis Austrinus • Puppis • Pyxis • Reticulum • Sagitta • Sagittarius • Scorpius • Sculptor • Scutum • Serpens • Sextans • Taurus • Telescopium • Triangulum • Triangulum Australe • Tucana • Ursa Major • Ursa Minor • Vela • Virgo • Volans • Vulpecula |