Constellation Vulpecula (Fox)

Vulpecula
Vulpecula: IAU Constellation Map [150]

Properties

Vulpecula is an inconspicuous constellation on the head of the Cygnus from a few stars of almost 4th magnitude that do not have a distinctive shape. It is south of Cygnus and north of Sagitta and Delphinus. The area of the constellation is 268 square degrees and the center culminates around midnight on 26 July. [9, 15]

Stars with Proper Names [154]
α Vul Anser
Data for constellation Vulpecula [150]
IAU NameVulpecula
IAU GenitiveVulpeculae
IAU Abbr.Vul
English NameFox
Opposition24 July
Season (47° N)March … December
Right Ascension18h 57m 07s … 21h 30m 39s
Declination+19° 23' 54" … +29° 29' 14"
Area268 deg2
Neighbours (N↻)Cyg, Lyr, Her, Sge, Del, Peg

Deep-Sky Object Descriptions

Abell 54
Abell 57
Abell 68
Abell 74
Coathanger Cluster
Collinder 399
IC 4954/5
Dumbbell Nebula
Messier 27
NGC 6802
NGC 6813
NGC 6820
NGC 6823
NGC 6842
NGC 6885
Roslund 4
Sh 2-86
Sh 2-89
Sh 2-90

Catalogues

Constellations Anser, Vulpecula and Sagitta
Constellations Anser, Vulpecula and Sagitta: Illustration from «Prodromus Astronomiae» by Johannes Hevelius, 1690. Mirrored view from «outside of the celestial sphere» [19]

History

The Gdansk astronomer Johannes Hevelius had introduced this constellation in 1690 as Vulpecula Cum Anser (little fox and goose), but in the meantime the goose seems to have escaped from the fox. [7]

References

  • [7] Der grosse Kosmos-Himmelsführer; Ian Ridpath; Wil Tirion; Kosmos Verlag; ISBN 3-440-05787-9
  • [9] Drehbare Sternkarte SIRIUS; H. Suter-Haug; Hallwag-Verlag, Bern
  • [15] Hartung's Astronomical Objects for Southern Telescopes; David Malin and David J. Frew; Melbourne University Press 1995; ISBN 0-522-84553-3
  • [19] Prodromus Astronomiae; Johannes Hevelius; 1690; DOI:10.3931/e-rara-456
  • [150] IAU: The Constellations, 11. Oktober 2020; iau.org/public/themes/constellations
  • [154] Yale Bright Star Catalog; tdc-www.harvard.edu/catalogs/bsc5.html; 2020-10-15