What it looks like
Corvus is a compact southern constellation, easy to spot thanks to its four brightest stars forming a flattened quadrilateral. It sits on the back of Hydra the Water Snake, and the two constellations along with Crater (the Cup) form a trio that has been associated together since Babylonian times.
Brightest stars
Corvus has four stars brighter than magnitude 3, forming the crow's body and wings.
| Star | Magnitude | Distance | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gienah (γ Corvi) | +2.59 | 154 ly | The Wing |
| Kraz (β Corvi) | +2.65 | 146 ly | — |
| Algorab (δ Corvi) | +2.94 | 87 ly | The Raven |
| Minkar (ε Corvi) | +3.02 | 318 ly | The Beak |
| Alchiba (α Corvi) | +4.02 | 49 ly | The Tent |
Mythology and history
In Greek myth, Corvus is the crow of Apollo, punished for delaying with a water-errand and placed in the sky alongside the cup and the water snake.
Apollo's crow
Apollo sent his crow to fetch water with a cup. The crow lingered at a fig tree waiting for the fruit to ripen, and when he finally returned, he lied that a water snake had blocked his way. Apollo saw through the deception and flung all three — crow, cup and snake — into the sky as punishment. The crow is condemned to sit forever on the water snake's back, unable to drink from the cup that never quite reaches his beak.
How to find it
Look for a compact quadrilateral of stars just above the long body of Hydra on spring evenings.
- Find Spica in Virgo, then look west for the quadrilateral.
- Corvus is small but distinct — one of the most recognisable spring patterns.
- Best on spring evenings from the northern hemisphere.
Key facts
- Abbreviation
- Crv
- Genitive
- Corvi
- Meaning
- The Crow
- Brightest star
- Gienah
- Main stars
- 4
- Area rank
- 70th
- Best visible
- May
- Declination
- -20°
- Meteor showers
- Corvids
- Neighbours
- Virgo, Crater, Hydra
Deep-sky objects
Corvus contains the Antennae Galaxies (NGC 4038 and NGC 4039), a famous pair of colliding galaxies about 45 million light-years away. The constellation also contains several faint planetary nebulae and the spiral galaxy NGC 4027.
Frequently asked questions
What does the constellation Corvus look like?
Corvus is a small southern constellation known as the Crow, marked by a distinctive quadrilateral of four moderately bright stars sitting just above Hydra.
What is the brightest star in Corvus?
The brightest star in Corvus is Gienah, shining at around magnitude 2.59.
When is Corvus best visible?
Corvus is best seen from both hemispheres during May.
What is the story behind Corvus?
In Greek myth, Corvus is the crow of Apollo, punished for delaying with a water-errand and placed in the sky alongside the cup and the water snake.
Which constellations are near Corvus?
Corvus borders Virgo, Crater and Hydra.
Crater
Hydra