Delphinus (constellation) facts for kids
| Constellation | |
List of stars in Delphinus
|
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| Abbreviation | Del |
|---|---|
| Genitive | Delphini |
| Pronunciation | Delfínus, genitive |
| Symbolism | Dolphin |
| Right ascension | 21 |
| Declination | +10 |
| Quadrant | NQ4 |
| Area | 189 sq. deg. (69th) |
| Main stars | 5 |
| Bayer/Flamsteed stars |
19 |
| Stars with planets | 5 |
| Stars brighter than 3.00m | 0 |
| Stars within 10.00 pc (32.62 ly) | 2 |
| Brightest star | Rotanev (β Del) (3.63m) |
| Messier objects | 0 |
| Meteor showers | None |
| Bordering constellations |
Vulpecula Sagitta Aquila Aquarius Equuleus Pegasus |
| Visible at latitudes between +90° and −70°. Best visible at 21:00 (9 p.m.) during the month of September. |
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Delphinus is a small but easy-to-spot constellation in the northern sky. Its name means "the dolphin" in Latin. You can often see it looking like a tiny diamond or a kite in the night sky. It's one of the constellations that was first listed by the ancient Greek astronomer Ptolemy.
Contents
Finding Delphinus in the Sky
Delphinus is a small constellation. It ranks as the 69th largest constellation in the sky. You can find it near other constellations like Aquila (the Eagle) and Pegasus (the Winged Horse).
When to Spot the Dolphin
The best time to see Delphinus is during the late summer and early autumn. In the Northern Hemisphere, it's highest in the sky around September. It's visible from almost anywhere on Earth, except for the southernmost parts.
How to Identify Its Shape
Delphinus has a distinctive shape. It looks like a small diamond with a tail. This shape makes it look like a dolphin leaping out of the water. The four main stars form the diamond, and a fifth star forms the tail.
Stars of Delphinus
Even though Delphinus is small, it has some interesting stars. The brightest star in Delphinus is called Rotanev. Its scientific name is Beta Delphini.
Rotanev: A Star with a Secret
Rotanev is not just one star, but two stars orbiting each other! It's a binary star system. The name "Rotanev" is actually the last name of an astronomer, Niccolò Cacciatore, spelled backward. He was an assistant to the famous astronomer Giuseppe Piazzi.
Other Notable Stars
- Sualocin (Alpha Delphini): This star's name is also a backward spelling. It's "Nicolaus" backward, referring to Niccolò Cacciatore's first name.
- Gamma Delphini: This is another beautiful double star. You can see its two stars with a small telescope. One star is yellowish, and the other is bluish-green.
The Dolphin's Story
Constellations often have ancient myths connected to them. Delphinus is linked to a few different stories from Greek mythology.
The Story of Arion
One famous myth tells the story of Arion, a talented Greek musician. He was traveling by ship when the sailors planned to rob and kill him. Arion asked to sing one last song. His music was so beautiful that it attracted a dolphin. After his song, Arion jumped into the sea, and the dolphin saved him by carrying him safely to shore. As a reward for the dolphin's kindness, the god Poseidon placed its image among the stars.
Poseidon's Messenger
Another myth says that Delphinus represents the dolphin that helped the sea god Poseidon. Poseidon wanted to marry Amphitrite, a sea nymph. But Amphitrite hid from him. Poseidon sent a dolphin to find her. The dolphin convinced Amphitrite to marry Poseidon. To thank the dolphin, Poseidon placed it in the sky.
Deep Sky Objects in Delphinus
Besides its stars, Delphinus also contains some interesting objects that are much farther away. These are called deep-sky objects.
Globular Clusters
- NGC 6934: This is a globular cluster. It's a very old, tightly packed group of thousands of stars. It looks like a fuzzy ball of light through a telescope.
- NGC 7006: Another globular cluster, this one is very far away. It's one of the most distant globular clusters known.
Planetary Nebulae
- NGC 6891: This is a planetary nebula. It's not a planet, but a cloud of gas and dust that forms when a star like our Sun reaches the end of its life. It looks like a small, colorful ring or disk.
Images for kids
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Delphinus is depicted on the left of this card from Urania's Mirror (1825)
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Contrast and color enhanced photograph of Delphinus
See also
In Spanish: Delphinus (constelación) para niños
