Carina: The Keel
Pronunciation: cuh-RYE-nuh/cuh-REE-nuh
| Carina Constellation Profile | |
|---|---|
| Abbreviation: Car | Genitive: Carinae |
| Origin: Lacaille | Location: Southern Hemisphere |
| Best View (North): Spring | Best View (South): |
| Bordering Constellations: Vela, Puppis, Pictor, Volans, Chamaeleon, Musca, Centaurus | |
The Myth Behind the Constellation Carina
Carina, “The Keel”, was part of a much larger constellation known as Argo Navis, the ship Argo. Argo was the vessel that Jason and the Argonauts sailed on during their quest for the Golden Fleece (see Aries.) In the mid-eighteenth century French astronomer Nicolas-Louis de La Caille divided this super constellation into three parts; Carina, Puppis and Vela. He also created a fourth constellation, Pyxis, using stars from part of this vast group.Carina Constellation Points of Interest
Interesting stars and objects.Bright Stars in Carina
These are the stars in Carina with a minimum magnitude of 3.0.| Name | Bayer Name | Magnitude | Color | Luminosity | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canopus | Alpha Alpha Carinae | -0.72 | Yellow-White | 15,100 suns | 313 ly |
| Miaplacidus | Beta Carinae | 1.67 | White | 246 suns | 111 ly |
| Avior | Epsilon Carinae | 1.86 | Orange | 13,728 suns | 633 ly |
| Aspidiske | Iota Carinae | 2.21 | White | 5,497 suns | 694 ly |
| Theta Carinae | Theta Carinae | 2.74 | Blue-White | 6,871 suns | 441 ly |
| Upsilon Carinae | Upsilon Carinae | 2.92 | Blue-White | 15,155 suns | 1622 ly |