Columba: The Dove
Pronunciation: cuh-LUM-buh
| Columba Constellation Profile | |
|---|---|
| Abbreviation: Col | Genitive: Columbae |
| Origin: Plancius | Location: Southern Hemisphere |
| Best View (North): Winter | Best View (South): |
| Bordering Constellations: Pictor, Puppis, Canis Major, Lepus, Caelum | |
The Myth Behind the Constellation Columba
Sixteenth-century Dutch theologian and mapmaker Petrus Plancius formed Columba, “The Dove”, to represent the Dove sent out by Noah from the Ark to find dry land. The dove came back with an olive branch held in its beak, a sign that the great flood was subsiding.Columba Constellation Points of Interest
Interesting stars and objects.Bright Stars in Columba
These are the stars in Columbas with a minimum magnitude of 3.0.| Name | Bayer Name | Magnitude | Color | Luminosity | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phact | Alpha Columbae | 2.65 | Blue-White | 1,028 suns | 268 ly |