Volans
Encyclopedia
Volans is a constellation
in the southern sky. It represents a flying fish; its name is a shortened form of its original name, Piscis Volans. Volans was one of twelve constellations created by Petrus Plancius
from the observations of Pieter Dirkszoon Keyser
and Frederick de Houtman
and it first appeared on a 35-cm diameter celestial globe published in 1597 (or 1598) in Amsterdam by Plancius with Jodocus Hondius
. The first depiction of this constellation in a celestial atlas was in Johann Bayer
's Uranometria
of 1603.
There are two double star
s within the constellation which can be observed using a small telescope
, Gamma Volantis
and Epsilon Volantis
, along with two galaxies which may be more difficult to see clearly, NGC 2442
and NGC 2434. The magnitudes of the Gamma Volantis stars are fourth and sixth, and of Epsilon Volantis fourth and eighth.
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. It represents a flying fish; its name is a shortened form of its original name, Piscis Volans. Volans was one of twelve constellations created by Petrus Plancius
Petrus Plancius
Petrus Plancius was a Dutch astronomer, cartographer and clergyman. He was born as Pieter Platevoet in Dranouter, now in Heuvelland, West Flanders. He studied theology in Germany and England...
from the observations of Pieter Dirkszoon Keyser
Pieter Dirkszoon Keyser
Pieter Dirkszoon Keyser , a.k.a. Petrus Theodori, was a Dutch navigator who mapped the southern sky....
and Frederick de Houtman
Frederick de Houtman
Frederick de Houtman , or Frederik de Houtman, was a Dutch explorer who sailed along the Western coast of Australia en route to Batavia.-Biography:...
and it first appeared on a 35-cm diameter celestial globe published in 1597 (or 1598) in Amsterdam by Plancius with Jodocus Hondius
Jodocus Hondius
Jodocus Hondius , sometimes called Jodocus Hondius the Elder to distinguish him from his son Henricus Hondius II, was a Flemish artist, engraver, and cartographer...
. The first depiction of this constellation in a celestial atlas was in Johann Bayer
Johann Bayer
Johann Bayer was a German lawyer and uranographer . He was born in Rain, Bavaria, in 1572. He began his study of philosophy in Ingolstadt in 1592, and moved later to Augsburg to begin work as a lawyer. He grew interested in astronomy during his time in Augsburg...
's Uranometria
Uranometria
Uranometria is the short title of a star atlas produced by Johann Bayer.It was published in Augsburg, Germany, in 1603 by Christophorus Mangus under the full title Uranometria : omnium asterismorum continens schemata, nova methodo delineata, aereis laminis expressa. This translates to...
of 1603.
There are two double star
Double star
In observational astronomy, a double star is a pair of stars that appear close to each other in the sky as seen from Earth when viewed through an optical telescope. This can happen either because the pair forms a binary star, i.e...
s within the constellation which can be observed using a small telescope
Telescope
A telescope is an instrument that aids in the observation of remote objects by collecting electromagnetic radiation . The first known practical telescopes were invented in the Netherlands at the beginning of the 1600s , using glass lenses...
, Gamma Volantis
Gamma Volantis
Gamma Volantis is a binary star in the constellation Volans. It is approximately 142 light years from Earth.The primary component, designated γ² Volantis, is an orange K-type giant with an apparent magnitude of +3.78. Its companion, γ¹ Volantis, is a yellow-white F-type main sequence dwarf with...
and Epsilon Volantis
Epsilon Volantis
Epsilon Volantis is a triple star system in the constellation Volans. It is approximately 642 light years from Earth.The primary component, Epsilon Volantis A, is a spectroscopic binary. It is classified a blue-white B-type subgiant and has an apparent magnitude of +4.35. The binary system has...
, along with two galaxies which may be more difficult to see clearly, NGC 2442
NGC 2442
NGC 2442 / 2443 is an intermediate spiral galaxy about 50 million light-years away in the constellation Volans. It was discovered by Sir John Herschel. Associated with this galaxy is HIPASS J0731-69, a cloud of gas devoid of any stars...
and NGC 2434. The magnitudes of the Gamma Volantis stars are fourth and sixth, and of Epsilon Volantis fourth and eighth.
External links
- http://www.astro.wisc.edu/~dolan/constellations/constellations/Volans.html
- http://www.maa.mhn.de/Maps/Stars_en/Fig/volans.html
- Starry Night Photography : Volans Constellation
- Star Tales – Volans
- http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/image/1003/NGC2442HST-GendlerL.jpg
