Constellation Corona Borealis (Northern Crown)
Properties
The constellation is east of the boat's 'cornet'. It contains an arc of seven stars, open to the north, all of which, with the exception of one, belong to the 4th magnitude; the exception is the main star 2nd magnitude, Gemma, which appears like a special gem. The constellation area is 179 square degrees and the center of the constellation culminates around midnight on May 20th. [9, 15]
| α CrB | Alphekka, Alphecca, Alphacca, Gemma, Gnosia, The Jewel, Gnosia Stella Coronae, Ashtaroth |
| β CrB | Nusakan |
| HR 5958 | Blaze Star |
| IAU Name | Corona Borealis |
| IAU Genitive | Coronae Borealis |
| IAU Abbr. | CrB |
| English Name | Northern Crown |
| Opposition | 21 May |
| Season (47° N) | January … September |
| Right Ascension | 15h 16m 04s … 16h 25m 07s |
| Declination | +25° 32' 17" … +39° 42' 42" |
| Area | 179 deg2 |
| Neighbours (N↻) | Her, Boo, Ser |
Catalogues
Mythology and History
Corona Borealis is an ancient constellation that represents the gem-studded tiara that Dionysus bequeathed to Ariadne as a wedding gift and hurled it into the sky after her death. Another interpretation sees in it the crown with which Theseus thanked Ariadne for her rescue operation from the labyrinth. Still others suspected it was a wreath of honor. [7]
The natives of Australia call the constellation Woomera and see it as the weapon that we call boomerang. The Indians in the Rio Negro river basin in northern Brazil see an armadillo in Corona Borealis because of the semicircular arrangement that appears to be open at the bottom. [20]