Dorado constellation
Dorado (the Dolphinfish) is a constellation in the southern sky, best seen in the evening in January. Its brightest star is α Doradus (magnitude 3.27). Dorado covers 179 square degrees and is the 73rd-largest of the 88 constellations.
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Detailed star map of Dorado
Facts
| Latin name | Dorado (genitive: Doradus) |
|---|---|
| Abbreviation | Dor |
| Meaning | the Dolphinfish |
| Area | 179 square degrees (73rd of 88) |
| Location | right ascension 4.9 h, declination −60° |
| Visible from | latitudes 20° N to 90° S (whole constellation) |
| Best month | January (at about 9 pm) |
| Brightest star | α Doradus |
| Stars brighter than magnitude 6 | 18 |
| Named stars (IAU) | none |
| Messier objects | none |
| Neighbors | Caelum, Horologium, Hydrus, Mensa, Pictor, Reticulum, Volans |
How to find Dorado
From 40° N (the USA, southern Europe, Japan) Dorado never rises completely above the horizon. From 35° S (Australia, South Africa, Argentina) it never sets and stands highest in the south, about 65° up. The months before and after (December and February) are also good: then it is up a couple of hours earlier or later.
Dorado borders Caelum, Horologium, Hydrus, Mensa, Pictor, Reticulum and Volans.
Stars of Dorado
Dorado has 18 stars brighter than magnitude 6, the limit of the naked eye under a dark sky. These are the brightest:
| Star | Designation | Magnitude | Type | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | α Doradus | 3.27 | A0IIISi | — |
| — | β Doradus | 3.76 | F6Ia | — |
| — | γ Doradus | 4.25 | F4III | — |
| — | δ Doradus | 4.35 | A7V | — |
Printable Dorado map and outline
A black and white version for printing and a plain outline of the Dorado figure, useful for school projects, worksheets and learning to recognize the shape.
History
Dorado is introduced by the Dutch navigators Pieter Dirkszoon Keyser and Frederick de Houtman in the 1590s and published by Petrus Plancius and Johann Bayer. Its official boundary was drawn by Eugène Delporte for the International Astronomical Union in 1930.
Questions about Dorado
What is the brightest star in Dorado?
α Doradus, at magnitude 3.27.
When can you see Dorado?
Dorado is best seen in the evening in January. The whole constellation is visible from latitudes between 20° N and 90° S.
How many stars are in Dorado?
18 stars in Dorado are brighter than magnitude 6 and can be seen with the naked eye under a dark sky; none of them has an official IAU name.
What does Dorado mean?
Dorado means “the Dolphinfish” in Latin. Its abbreviation is Dor and the genitive, used in star names such as α Doradus, is Doradus.
