Carina constellation
Carina (the Keel) is a constellation in the southern sky, best seen in the evening in March. Its brightest star is Canopus (magnitude −0.72). Carina covers 494 square degrees and is the 34th-largest of the 88 constellations.
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Detailed star map of Carina
Facts
| Latin name | Carina (genitive: Carinae) |
|---|---|
| Abbreviation | Car |
| Meaning | the Keel |
| Area | 494 square degrees (34th of 88) |
| Location | right ascension 8.5 h, declination −63° |
| Visible from | latitudes 14° N to 90° S (whole constellation) |
| Best month | March (at about 9 pm) |
| Brightest star | Canopus |
| Stars brighter than magnitude 6 | 123 |
| Named stars (IAU) | 4 |
| Messier objects | none |
| Neighbors | Centaurus, Chamaeleon, Musca, Pictor, Puppis, Vela, Volans |
How to find Carina
From 40° N (the USA, southern Europe, Japan) Carina never rises completely above the horizon. From 35° S (Australia, South Africa, Argentina) it never sets and stands highest in the south, about 62° up. The months before and after (February and April) are also good: then it is up a couple of hours earlier or later.
Carina borders Centaurus, Chamaeleon, Musca, Pictor, Puppis, Vela and Volans.
Asterisms with stars in Carina: False Cross.
Stars of Carina
Carina has 123 stars brighter than magnitude 6, the limit of the naked eye under a dark sky. These are the brightest:
| Star | Designation | Magnitude | Type | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canopus | α Carinae | −0.72 | F0II | 310 ly |
| Miaplacidus | β Carinae | 1.68 | A2IV | 113 ly |
| Avior | ε Carinae | 1.86 | K3III+B2:V | — |
| Aspidiske | ι Carinae | 2.25 | A8Ib | — |
| — | θ Carinae | 2.76 | B0Vp | — |
| — | υ Carinae | 3.01 | A6Ib | — |
| — | ω Carinae | 3.32 | B8III | — |
| — | HR 4140 | 3.32 | B4Vne | — |
| — | HR 4050 | 3.4 | K3IIa | — |
| — | HR 3659 | 3.44 | B2IV-V | — |
| — | χ Carinae | 3.47 | B3IVp | — |
| — | HR 3884 | 3.69 | G5Iab-Ib | — |
Printable Carina map and outline
A black and white version for printing and a plain outline of the Carina figure, useful for school projects, worksheets and learning to recognize the shape.
History
Carina is part of Ptolemy’s large ship constellation Argo Navis, which Nicolas-Louis de Lacaille split into Carina, Puppis and Vela in the 1750s. Its official boundary was drawn by Eugène Delporte for the International Astronomical Union in 1930.
Questions about Carina
What is the brightest star in Carina?
Canopus, at magnitude −0.72, about 310 light-years away.
When can you see Carina?
Carina is best seen in the evening in March. The whole constellation is visible from latitudes between 14° N and 90° S.
How many stars are in Carina?
123 stars in Carina are brighter than magnitude 6 and can be seen with the naked eye under a dark sky; 4 of them have official IAU names.
What does Carina mean?
Carina means “the Keel” in Latin. Its abbreviation is Car and the genitive, used in star names such as α Carinae, is Carinae.
