Vel - Vela the Sail of Argo Navis
Car - Carina the Keel of Argo Navis
IAU ConstellationSize
34 of 88Astronomical RegionsIntro and Visual description
Locate Canopus by drawing a line from the easternmost star of Orion’s belt down through Rigel, Orion’s left foot. Canopus lies about twice as far from Orion’s belt as Sirius.
Between Canopus and the south pole lies the Large Magellenic Cloud (LMC), located in the constellation Dorado the Swordfish.
Between Canopus and Crux are the False Cross (nearer Canopus, shared by Carina and Vela) and the Diamond Cross (nearer Crux, in Carina). These are fainter than Crux and were once part of Argo Navis.
Cen - Centaurus the Centaur
IAU ConstellationSize
9 of 88Astronomical RegionsIntro and Visual description
Partially visible only in March and April from 35 degrees north latitude.
Hadar, a knee of the Centaur, is on a line from Alpha Centauri to Crux.
Pyx - Pyxis the Compass of Argo Navis
IAU ConstellationSize
65 of 88Astronomical RegionsVel - Vela the Sail of Argo Navis
Argo Navis the Ship of the Argonauts
Asterism Visual Appearance
Argo Navis is located between between Antlia, Centaurus, Chamaeleon, and Musca. Canopus, once alpha-Argus, now lies in Carina.
Asterism Origin and History
An ancient constellation, the only one of Ptolemy's 48 no longer used. In the 18th century, the French astronomer Lacaille dismantled Argo Navis into three smaller constellations: Carina the Keel, Puppis the Stern or Poop, and Vela the Sail. Small Pyxis the Compass is located nearby.
Asterism Skylore
Argo Navis was the ship which Argus built for Jason and his crew, the Argonauts, to carry them on their quest for the Golden Fleece. After their many adventures, Athena raised their ship to the sky.
IAU Constellation Main Page
Tau - Taurus the Bull
Size
Intro and Visual description
Taurus the Bull is easily spotted. Its head is the Hyades, a V-shaped cluster of stars. His horns point outward from the V. Aldebaran is the red eye of the Bull as he charges down upon us.