What it looks like
Columba is a compact southern constellation introduced by Petrus Plancius in 1592, drawn as a dove — often associated with Noah's dove or the dove of the Flood. It contains two stars brighter than magnitude 2.7, Phact and Wazn, which make it easy to find just south of Canis Major.
Brightest stars
Columba has two reasonably bright stars, Phact and Wazn, both visible to the naked eye from most latitudes.
| Star | Magnitude | Distance | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phact (α Columbae) | +2.65 | 261 ly | — |
| Wazn (β Columbae) | +3.12 | 87 ly | — |
| Delta Columbae | +3.85 | 237 ly | — |
| Epsilon Columbae | +3.87 | 277 ly | — |
Mythology and history
Columba has no ancient Greek mythology as a constellation. It was created in 1592 by Petrus Plancius and is often associated with the dove Noah released from the Ark.
The dove of the flood
Columba was introduced by Petrus Plancius in 1592, and was later included by Bayer in the Uranometria of 1603. Although not part of the classical Greek sky, it is often associated with the dove Noah released from the Ark to search for dry land — a symbol of hope and peace in both Jewish and Christian tradition. Some later writers also linked it to the dove of the Argonauts, sent ahead of the ship Argo to find a safe passage between the Clashing Rocks.
How to find it
Look just south of Canis Major on winter evenings — Phact and Wazn make the dove easy to spot.
- Find bright Sirius, then look south for Columba.
- Phact is one of the brightest stars in the region.
- Best on winter evenings from both hemispheres.
Key facts
- Abbreviation
- Col
- Genitive
- Columbae
- Meaning
- The Dove
- Brightest star
- Phact
- Main stars
- 5
- Area rank
- 54th
- Best visible
- February
- Declination
- -35°
- Meteor showers
- —
- Neighbours
- Lepus, Caelum, Pictor, Puppis, Canis Major
Deep-sky objects
Columba contains the globular cluster NGC 1851 and the faint spiral galaxy NGC 1792. The constellation is also famous for Mu Columbae, a runaway star ejected from the Orion Nebula region millions of years ago — one of the best-studied runaway stars in the sky.
Frequently asked questions
What does the constellation Columba look like?
Columba is a small southern constellation known as the Dove, marked by the bright stars Phact and Wazn, and lying just below Orion and Canis Major.
What is the brightest star in Columba?
The brightest star in Columba is Phact, shining at around magnitude 2.65.
When is Columba best visible?
Columba is best seen from both hemispheres during February.
What is the story behind Columba?
Columba has no ancient Greek mythology as a constellation. It was created in 1592 by Petrus Plancius and is often associated with the dove Noah released from the Ark.
Which constellations are near Columba?
Columba borders Lepus, Caelum, Pictor, Puppis and Canis Major.
Canis Major
Lepus