Volans constellation
Volans (the Flying Fish) is a constellation in the southern sky, best seen in the evening in March. Its brightest star is β Volantis (magnitude 3.77). Volans covers 141 square degrees and is the 76th-largest of the 88 constellations.
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Detailed star map of Volans
Facts
| Latin name | Volans (genitive: Volantis) |
|---|---|
| Abbreviation | Vol |
| Meaning | the Flying Fish |
| Area | 141 square degrees (76th of 88) |
| Location | right ascension 7.8 h, declination −70° |
| Visible from | latitudes 15° N to 90° S (whole constellation) |
| Best month | March (at about 9 pm) |
| Brightest star | β Volantis |
| Stars brighter than magnitude 6 | 19 |
| Named stars (IAU) | none |
| Messier objects | none |
| Neighbors | Carina, Chamaeleon, Dorado, Mensa, Pictor |
How to find Volans
From 40° N (the USA, southern Europe, Japan) Volans never rises completely above the horizon. From 35° S (Australia, South Africa, Argentina) it never sets and stands highest in the south, about 55° up. The months before and after (February and April) are also good: then it is up a couple of hours earlier or later.
Volans borders Carina, Chamaeleon, Dorado, Mensa and Pictor.
Stars of Volans
Volans has 19 stars brighter than magnitude 6, the limit of the naked eye under a dark sky. These are the brightest:
| Star | Designation | Magnitude | Type | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | β Volantis | 3.77 | K1III | — |
| — | γ2 Volantis | 3.78 | K0III | — |
| — | ζ Volantis | 3.95 | K0III | — |
| — | δ Volantis | 3.98 | F6II | — |
| — | α Volantis | 4.0 | A2-3IVm | — |
| — | ε Volantis | 4.35 | B6IV | — |
Printable Volans map and outline
A black and white version for printing and a plain outline of the Volans figure, useful for school projects, worksheets and learning to recognize the shape.
History
Volans 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 Volans
What is the brightest star in Volans?
β Volantis, at magnitude 3.77.
When can you see Volans?
Volans is best seen in the evening in March. The whole constellation is visible from latitudes between 15° N and 90° S.
How many stars are in Volans?
19 stars in Volans 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 Volans mean?
Volans means “the Flying Fish” in Latin. Its abbreviation is Vol and the genitive, used in star names such as β Volantis, is Volantis.
