Vela (constellation)
Encyclopedia
Vela is a constellation
in the southern sky. Its name is Latin
for the sail
s 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
.
, is a bright
1.75m 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
.
formed of the star
s 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.
known as the NGC 3132
(nicknamed Eight-burst Nebula). This constellation has 32 more planetary nebula
e.
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.
Constellation
In modern astronomy, a constellation is an internationally defined area of the celestial sphere. These areas are grouped around asterisms, patterns formed by prominent stars within apparent proximity to one another on Earth's night sky....
in the southern sky. Its name is Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
for the sail
Sail
A sail is any type of surface intended to move a vessel, vehicle or rotor by being placed in a wind—in essence a propulsion wing. Sails are used in sailing.-History of sails:...
s of a ship, and it was originally part of a larger constellation, the ship Argo Navis
Argo Navis
Argo Navis was a large constellation in the southern sky that has since been divided into three constellations. It represented the Argo, the ship used by Jason and the Argonauts in Greek mythology...
, which was later divided into three parts, the others being Carina
Carina (constellation)
Carina is a constellation in the southern sky. Its name is Latin for the keel of a ship, and it was formerly part of the larger constellation of Argo Navis until that constellation was divided in three.-Stars:...
and Puppis
Puppis
Puppis is a constellation in the southern sky. Its name is the Latin word for the poop deck of a ship, and Puppis represents the deck of the ship and its deckhouses...
.
Stars
The brightest star in the constellation, γ VelorumGamma Velorum
Gamma Velorum is a star system in the constellation Vela. At magnitude +1.7, it is one of the brightest stars in the night sky. It has the traditional names Suhail and Suhail al Muhlif, which confusingly also apply to Lambda Velorum...
, is a bright
Apparent magnitude
The apparent magnitude of a celestial body is a measure of its brightness as seen by an observer on Earth, adjusted to the value it would have in the absence of the atmosphere...
1.75m supergiant
Supergiant
Supergiants are among the most massive stars. They occupy the top region of the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram. In the Yerkes spectral classification, supergiants are class Ia or Ib . They typically have bolometric absolute magnitudes between -5 and -12...
star. The star is actually quintuple
Star system
A star system or stellar system is a small number of stars which orbit each other, bound by gravitational attraction. A large number of stars bound by gravitation is generally called a star cluster or galaxy, although, broadly speaking, they are also star systems.-Binary star systems:A stellar...
, 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
Kappa Velorum
Kappa Velorum is a binary star in the constellation Vela. It also has the traditional name Markab, often spelled Markeb to distinguish it from similarly named stars such as Alpha Pegasi....
is also called Markeb
Markeb
Markeb is a variant form of Markab the proper name for some stars.* k Puppis, in the constellation Puppis, was former Kappa Argus lettered by Bayer....
.
False Cross
The False Cross is an asterismAsterism (astronomy)
In astronomy, an asterism is a pattern of stars recognized on Earth's night sky. It may form part of an official constellation, or be composed of stars from more than one. Like constellations, asterisms are in most cases composed of stars which, while they are visible in the same general direction,...
formed of the star
Star
A star is a massive, luminous sphere of plasma held together by gravity. At the end of its lifetime, a star can also contain a proportion of degenerate matter. The nearest star to Earth is the Sun, which is the source of most of the energy on Earth...
s δ Velorum
Delta Velorum
Delta Velorum is a star system in the constellation Vela. It is approximately 79.7 light years from Earth. It is sometimes given the name Koo She, Chinese for 'Bow and Arrows', along with ω Velorum and stars in Canis Major....
and κ Velorum
Kappa Velorum
Kappa Velorum is a binary star in the constellation Vela. It also has the traditional name Markab, often spelled Markeb to distinguish it from similarly named stars such as Alpha Pegasi....
and ι Carinae
Iota Carinae
Iota Carinae is a star in the constellation Carina. It is one of the brighter stars in the night sky.It has the traditional names Aspidiske, Scutulum and Turais...
and ε Carinae
Epsilon Carinae
Epsilon Carinae is a star in the constellation Carina. At apparent magnitude +1.86 it is one of the brightest stars in the night sky, but is not visible from the northern hemisphere....
. It is so called because it is sometimes mistaken for the Southern Cross
Crux
Crux is the smallest of the 88 modern constellations, but is one of the most distinctive. Its name is Latin for cross, and it is dominated by a cross-shaped asterism that is commonly known as the Southern Cross.-Visibility:...
, causing errors in astronavigation.
Deep sky objects
Of the deep sky objects of interest in Vela is a planetary nebulaPlanetary nebula
A planetary nebula is an emission nebula consisting of an expanding glowing shell of ionized gas ejected during the asymptotic giant branch phase of certain types of stars late in their life...
known as the NGC 3132
NGC 3132
NGC 3132 is a bright and extensively studied planetary nebula in the constellation Vela. Its distance from Earth is estimated at about 550 kpc...
(nicknamed Eight-burst Nebula). This constellation has 32 more planetary nebula
Planetary nebula
A planetary nebula is an emission nebula consisting of an expanding glowing shell of ionized gas ejected during the asymptotic giant branch phase of certain types of stars late in their life...
e.
Also of interest is the Vela Supernova Remnant
Vela Supernova Remnant
The Vela supernova remnant is a supernova remnant in the southern constellation Vela. Its source supernova exploded approximately 11,000-12,300 years ago...
. This is the nebula
Nebula
A nebula is an interstellar cloud of dust, hydrogen gas, helium gas and other ionized gases...
of a supernova
Supernova
A supernova is a stellar explosion that is more energetic than a nova. It is pronounced with the plural supernovae or supernovas. Supernovae are extremely luminous and cause a burst of radiation that often briefly outshines an entire galaxy, before fading from view over several weeks or months...
explosion which is believed to have been visible from the Earth around 10,000 years ago. The remnant contains a pulsar
Pulsar
A pulsar is a highly magnetized, rotating neutron star that emits a beam of electromagnetic radiation. The radiation can only be observed when the beam of emission is pointing towards the Earth. This is called the lighthouse effect and gives rise to the pulsed nature that gives pulsars their name...
which was the first pulsar to be identified optically.
The Gum Nebula
Gum Nebula
Gum Nebula is an emission nebula that can be found in the southern constellations Vela and Puppis. It lies roughly 400 parsecs from the Earth. Hard to distinguish, it is believed to be the greatly expanded remains of a supernova that took place about a million years ago...
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.