Carina Constellation | Constellations In The Southern Hemisphere

CARINA CONSTELLATION – In this topic, we are going to know and learn about the southern constellation Carina, the Keel.

It is a constellation in the southern sky. It is the Latin term for ‘keel’ as in the keel of a ship, which is defined as the the longitudinal structure along the centerline at the bottom of a vessel’s hull.

It was a part of a much larger constellation Argo Navis, along with the stern constellation Puppis, and the sails constellation Vela. The larger constellation represented the Argo, a mythical ship on which Jason and the Argonauts sailed to get the Golden Fleece.

Carina houses the second brightest star in the night sky, Canopus, as well as Eta Carinae, surrounded by the famous Carina Nebula, the Theta Carinae Cluster , the Wishing Well Cluster, the Diamond Cluster, and the open cluster NGC 3603.

It is the 34th largest constellation in the night sky and occupies an area of about 494 square degrees. It lies in SQ2, the second quadrant of the southern hemisphere.

Carina belongs to the Heavenly Waters family, along with Columba, Delphinus, Equuleus, Eridanus, Piscis Austrinus, Puppis, Pyxis, and Vela.

Stars

Among the stars include: