Corvus (constellation)

Corvus (Latin for Raven/Crow) is a small southern constellation with only 11 stars visible to the naked eye (brighter than magnitude 5.5). It was one of the 48 constellations listed by Ptolemy, and also counts among the 88 modern constellations.

Notable features

δ, γ, ε, and β form the 'sail' asterism; and γ and δ serve as pointers toward Spica.

Notable deep sky objects

Corvus contains no Messier objects.
The Ringtail peculiar galaxy consists of the possibly colliding NGC 4038 and NGC 4039, and appears to have a heart shape as seen from Terra.
The center of Corvus is home to a Planetary nebula NGC 4361. The nebula itself resembles a small elliptical galaxy, but the magnitude 13 center star gives away its true nature.

Mythology

In Greek mythology, a crow serves Apollo, and is sent to fetch water, but it rests lazily on the journey, and after finally obtaining the water in a cup, takes back a water snake as well, as an excuse. According to the myth, Apollo saw through the fraud, and angrily cast the crow, cup, and snake, into the sky. The origin of this story is likely to be the juxtaposition of this constellation with those of Crater (constellation), and Hydra (constellation), in the area of the sky known as the Sea.

Table of notable stars

BD	Names and catalog numbers	Magnitude	Ly away	Comment
γ	Gienah, Gienah Ghurab, HD106625	2.59	190
β	Kraz, HD109379	2.65	96
δ	Algorab, Algoral, Algorel, Algores, ADS 8572, HD108767	3.0 9.2	120 or 88?	White primary star and a pale purple companion.
ε	Minkar, HD105707	3.00	140
α	Al Chiba, Al Minliar al Ghurab, Alchiba, Alchita, Alkhiba, HD105452	4.02	49
ζ	HD107348	5.2 13.7	360	Double star.
VV	Struve 1669, ADS 8627	6.0 6.0	278	Quadruple.
R		6.7 / 14.4		Variable star with a 317.03 day cycle.
	Ross 695, HIP 60559	12.4	29.64	Very close to Sol, with a proper motion of 2.52 seconds of arc per year.

Stars

Stars with proper names:

(1/α Crv) 4.02 Alchibah Al Chiba, Alchita, Alchitah or Al Minliar al Ghurab
< الخباء al-xibā’ The tent (lit. shelter)
< منقار الغراب minqār al-ghurāb Beak (lit. peak) of the raven

(9/β Crv) 2.65 Kraz or Tso Hea
Tso Hea < 左轄 (Mandarin zuǒxiá) The left-hand lynchpin (of the carriage)

(4/γ Crv) 2.58 Gienah Ghurab
< الجناح الغراب الأيمن al-janāħ al-ghurāb al-’ayman The right wing of the raven

(7/δ Crv) 2.94 Algorab Algoral, Algorel
< الغراب al-ghurāb The raven

(2/ε Crv) 3.02 Minkar
< منقار minqār beak (lit. peak)

Stars with Bayer designations:

5/ζ Crv 5.20; 8/η Crv 4.30

Stars with Flamsteed designations:

3 Crv 5.45; 6 Crv 5.66

External links

The Deep Photographic Guide to the Constellations: Corvus