Vela constellation
Vela (the Sails) is a constellation in the southern sky, best seen in the evening in March. Its brightest star is γ2 Velorum (magnitude 1.78). Vela covers 500 square degrees and is the 32nd-largest of the 88 constellations.
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Detailed star map of Vela
Facts
| Latin name | Vela (genitive: Velorum) |
|---|---|
| Abbreviation | Vel |
| Meaning | the Sails |
| Area | 500 square degrees (32nd of 88) |
| Location | right ascension 9.5 h, declination −48° |
| Visible from | latitudes 33° N to 90° S (whole constellation) |
| Best month | March (at about 9 pm) |
| Brightest star | γ2 Velorum |
| Stars brighter than magnitude 6 | 126 |
| Named stars (IAU) | 3 |
| Messier objects | none |
| Neighbors | Antlia, Carina, Centaurus, Puppis, Pyxis |
How to find Vela
From 40° N (the USA, southern Europe, Japan) look south in March evenings: at about 9 pm Vela stands highest, around 2° above the southern horizon. From 35° S (Australia, South Africa, Argentina) it is highest in the south, about 77° above the horizon. The months before and after (February and April) are also good: then it is up a couple of hours earlier or later.
Vela borders Antlia, Carina, Centaurus, Puppis and Pyxis.
Asterisms with stars in Vela: False Cross.
Stars of Vela
Vela has 126 stars brighter than magnitude 6, the limit of the naked eye under a dark sky. These are the brightest:
| Star | Designation | Magnitude | Type | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | γ2 Velorum | 1.78 | WC8+O9I | — |
| Alsephina | δ Velorum | 1.96 | A1V | — |
| Suhail | λ Velorum | 2.21 | K4.5Ib-II | — |
| Markeb | κ Velorum | 2.5 | B2IV-V | 571 ly |
| — | μ Velorum | 2.69 | G5III+G2V | — |
| — | HR 3803 | 3.13 | K5III | — |
| — | φ Velorum | 3.54 | B5Ib | — |
| — | ψ Velorum | 3.6 | F3IV+F0IV | — |
| — | HR 3447 | 3.62 | B3IV | — |
| — | HR 3614 | 3.75 | K2III | — |
| — | HR 4167 | 3.84 | F4IV+F3 | — |
| — | HR 3445 | 3.84 | F3Ia | — |
Printable Vela map and outline
A black and white version for printing and a plain outline of the Vela figure, useful for school projects, worksheets and learning to recognize the shape.
History
Vela 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 Vela
What is the brightest star in Vela?
γ2 Velorum, at magnitude 1.78.
When can you see Vela?
Vela is best seen in the evening in March. The whole constellation is visible from latitudes between 33° N and 90° S.
How many stars are in Vela?
126 stars in Vela are brighter than magnitude 6 and can be seen with the naked eye under a dark sky; 3 of them have official IAU names.
What does Vela mean?
Vela means “the Sails” in Latin. Its abbreviation is Vel and the genitive, used in star names such as γ2 Velorum, is Velorum.
