Lepus_(constellation) Latitude and Longitude:
Sky map 06h 00m 00s, −20° 00′ 00″
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Not to be confused with the constellation Lupus, the wolf.
Lepus
Constellation
Lepus
List of stars in Lepus
AbbreviationLep
GenitiveLeporis
Pronunciation /ˈliːpəs/, or colloquially /ˈlɛpəs/; genitive /ˈlɛpərɪs/
Symbolismthe Hare
Right ascension04h 55m 02.2311s–06h 12m 51.7500s [1]
Declination−10.8138046°–−27.2787991° [1]
QuadrantNQ2
Area290 sq. deg. ( 51st)
Main stars8
Bayer/ Flamsteed
stars		20
Stars with planets3
Stars brighter than 3.00m2
Stars within 10.00 pc (32.62 ly)3
Brightest star α Lep (Arneb) (2.58 m)
Messier objects1
Meteor showersNone
Bordering
constellations		 Orion
Monoceros
Canis Major
Columba
Caelum
Eridanus
Visible at latitudes between + 63° and − 90°.
Best visible at 21:00 (9 p.m.) during the month of January.

Lepus ( /ˈliːpəs/, colloquially /ˈlɛpəs/) is a constellation lying just south of the celestial equator. Its name is Latin for hare. It is located below—immediately south—of Orion (the hunter), and is sometimes represented as a hare being chased by Orion or by Orion's hunting dogs. [2]

Although the hare does not represent any particular figure in Greek mythology, Lepus was one of the 48 constellations listed by the 2nd-century astronomer Ptolemy, and it remains one of the 88 modern constellations.

History and mythology

Lepus as seen in Urania's Mirror (1825)

Lepus is most often represented as a hare being hunted by Orion, whose hunting dogs ( Canis Major and Canis Minor) pursue it. The constellation is also associated with the Moon rabbit. [3]

Four stars of this constellation (α, β, γ, δ Lep) form a quadrilateral and are known as ‘Arsh al- Jawzā', "the Throne of Jawzā'" or Kursiyy al-Jawzā' al-Mu'akhkhar, "the Hindmost Chair of Jawzā'" and al-Nihāl, "the Camels Quenching Their Thirst" in Arabic.

Features

Stars

See also: List of stars in Lepus
The constellation Lepus as it can be seen by the naked eye

There are a fair number of bright stars, both single and double, in Lepus. Alpha Leporis, the brightest star of Lepus, is a white supergiant of magnitude 2.6, 1300 light-years from Earth. Its traditional name, Arneb (أرنب ’arnab), means "hare" in Arabic. [4] Beta Leporis, traditionally known as Nihal (Arabic for "quenching their thirst"), [4] is a yellow giant of magnitude 2.8, 159 light-years from Earth. Gamma Leporis is a double star divisible in binoculars. The primary is a yellow star of magnitude 3.6, 29 light-years from Earth. The secondary is an orange star of magnitude 6.2. Delta Leporis is a yellow giant of magnitude 3.8, 112 light-years from Earth. Epsilon Leporis is an orange giant of magnitude 3.2, [5] 227 light-years from Earth. Kappa Leporis is a double star divisible in medium aperture amateur telescopes, 560 light-years from Earth. The primary is a blue-white star of magnitude 4.4 and the secondary is a star of magnitude 7.4. [3]

There are several variable stars in Lepus. R Leporis is a Mira variable star. It is also called "Hind's Crimson Star" for its striking red color and because it was named for John Russell Hind. It varies in magnitude from a minimum of 9.8 to a maximum of 7.3, with a period of 420 days. R Leporis is at a distance of 1500 light-years. The color intensifies as the star brightens. [6] It can be as dim as magnitude 12 and as bright as magnitude 5.5. [3] T Leporis is also a Mira variable observed in detail by ESO's Very Large Telescope Interferometer. [7] RX Leporis is a semi-regular red giant that has a period of 2 months. It has a minimum magnitude of 7.4 and a maximum magnitude of 5.0. [8]

Deep-sky objects

There is one Messier object in Lepus, M79. It is a globular cluster of magnitude 8.0, 42,000 light-years from Earth. One of the few globular clusters visible in the Northern Celestial Hemisphere's winter, it is a Shapley class V cluster, which means that it has an intermediate concentration towards its center. It is often described as having a " starfish" shape.

M79 was discovered in 1780 by Pierre Méchain. [9]

See also

References

Inline citations

  1. ^ a b IAU, The Constellations, Lepus.
  2. ^ "Skys & Telescope: March 2008", Southern Hemisphere Highlights: by Shermend
  3. ^ a b c Ridpath & Tirion 2001, pp. 170–171.
  4. ^ a b "IAU Working Group on Star Names (WGSN)". Retrieved 22 May 2016.
  5. ^ Gutierrez-Moreno, Adelina; et al. (1966). "A System of photometric standards". Publicaciones Universidad de Chile. 1: 1–17. Bibcode: 1966PDAUC...1....1G.
  6. ^ Levy 2005, p. [ page needed].
  7. ^ Unique Details Of Double Star In Orion Nebula And Star T Leporis Captured By 'Virtual' Telescope. ScienceDaily. Retrieved February 19, 2009, [1]
  8. ^ Ridpath & Tirion 2001, p. [ page needed].
  9. ^ Levy 2005, pp. 160–161.

Sources referenced

  • "Lepus". The Constellations. International Astronomical Union.
  • Allen, R. H. (1899). Star-names and Their Meanings. New York: G. E. Stechart.
  • Kunitzsch, P.; Smart T. (2006). A Dictionary of Modern Star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations. Cambridge (USA): Sky Publishing Corp.
  • Levy, David H. (2005). Deep Sky Objects. Prometheus Books. ISBN  1-59102-361-0.
  • Ridpath, Ian; Tirion, Wil (2001), Stars and Planets Guide, Princeton University Press, ISBN  0-691-08913-2
  • Ridpath, Ian & Tirion, Wil (2007). Stars and Planets Guide, Collins, London. ISBN  978-0-00-725120-9. Princeton University Press, Princeton. ISBN  978-0-691-13556-4.

External links

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