Vela (constellation)

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, and the primary component is famous for being the brightest Wolf–Rayet star in the sky. γ Velorum is also sometimes called Regor. The shape of VELA is also a sail.

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). This constellation has 32 more planetary nebulae.

Also of interest 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.

Vela is referenced in the Astronomy Picture of the Day (APOD) for 2011 September 5: http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap110905.html for "HH 47: A Young Star Jet Expands" located in Vela.

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.

External links

• Star Tales – Vela

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