What it looks like
Vela is a bright southern constellation that formed part of the ancient Greek ship Argo Navis, broken up by Lacaille in 1763. It contains several bright stars and lies along the Milky Way, giving it a rich collection of nebulae and clusters. The Vela Supernova Remnant is the expanding shell of a star that exploded about 11,000 years ago.
Brightest stars
Vela contains several bright stars, including Regor and Suhail, both brighter than magnitude 2.5.
| Star | Magnitude | Distance | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regor (γ Velorum) | +1.75 | 840 ly | — |
| Suhail (λ Velorum) | +2.21 | 545 ly | — |
| Alsephina (δ Velorum) | +1.96 | 80 ly | — |
| Markeb (κ Velorum) | +2.50 | 570 ly | — |
| Mu Velorum | +2.69 | 117 ly | — |
Mythology and history
Vela is the sails of Argo Navis, the ship of Jason and the Argonauts, cut from the greater constellation by Lacaille in 1763.
Sails of the Argo
Vela represents the sails of Argo Navis, the ship that carried Jason and the Argonauts on their quest for the Golden Fleece. The original constellation was one of the largest in the sky, and when Lacaille reorganised the southern sky in 1763 he divided it into three: Carina (the keel), Puppis (the stern) and Vela (the sails). The pieces remain collectively known as the 'Argo' stars, and Vela holds the ship's mainsail and topsail.
How to find it
Look for a loose rectangle of stars along the Milky Way in the southern sky, between Carina and Puppis.
- Find Canopus in Carina first; Vela lies east of it.
- Look for the False Cross asterism shared with Carina.
- Best from the southern hemisphere on summer and autumn evenings.
Key facts
- Abbreviation
- Vel
- Genitive
- Velorum
- Meaning
- The Sails
- Brightest star
- Regor
- Main stars
- 8
- Area rank
- 32nd
- Best visible
- March
- Declination
- -50°
- Meteor showers
- —
- Neighbours
- Antlia, Pyxis, Puppis, Carina, Centaurus
Deep-sky objects
The Vela Supernova Remnant is the expanding debris of a supernova that exploded roughly 11,000 years ago, containing the Vela Pulsar. The constellation also contains the Gum Nebula, a vast emission nebula, and the open clusters NGC 2547 and IC 2391.
Frequently asked questions
What does the constellation Vela look like?
Vela is a southern constellation known as the Sails, once part of Argo Navis, and home to the Vela Supernova Remnant and the vast Gum Nebula.
What is the brightest star in Vela?
The brightest star in Vela is Regor, shining at around magnitude 1.75.
When is Vela best visible?
Vela is best seen from southern hemisphere during March.
What is the story behind Vela?
Vela is the sails of Argo Navis, the ship of Jason and the Argonauts, cut from the greater constellation by Lacaille in 1763.
Which constellations are near Vela?
Vela borders Antlia, Pyxis, Puppis, Carina and Centaurus.
Carina
Puppis