Wikipedia

R.H. Allen: Star Names

Ian Ridpath: Star Tales

Universe Guide

Sea and Sky: Constellations

SkyEye: Constellations

IAU Map

Constellations Puppis The Stern (of the Ship)

Puppis is a constellation in the southern hemisphere. It was originally part of the constellation Argo Navis, the largest of Ptolemy's original 48 constellations. Because of its unwieldy size, French astronomer Nicolas-Louis de Lacaille suggested in 1763 to divide Argo Navis into three separate constellations. In 1928, the International Astronomical Union made de Lacaille's suggestion official and the Constellation is now split into Carina (the hull or the keel), Puppis (the stern) and Vela (the sail).

Puppis in the Night Sky

Ian Ridpath writes that "...there is, though, still an echo of Argo’s former unity." When de Lacaille designed the three succeeding constellations, he "... used just one sequence of Greek letters, from Alpha to Omega, as though Argo were still a single figure. The designations Alpha and Beta were given to the two brightest stars of Argo, which are in Carina; hence there are no stars labelled Alpha or Beta in either Puppis or Vela. Equally, the brightest star in Puppis is Zeta and the brightest in Vela is Gamma, but there is no Zeta or Gamma Carinae."

This section describes the constellation as it is seen in the night sky. For myth and star lore about Puppis click here.

Star maps based on maps provided by Sea & Sky

The stars of Puppis

Number	Desig- nation	Name		Number	Desig- nation	Name
1	M 93	Messier 93 / NGC 2447		6	ρ Pup	Tureis
2	M 47	Messier 47 / NGC 2422		7	τ Pup	Tau Puppis
3	M 46	Messier 46 / NGC 2437		8	ν Pup	Nu Puppis
4	ζ Pup	Naos		9	σ Pup	Hadir
5	π Pup	Ahadi		10	ξ Pup	Azmidi

Back to Star Lore Start Page

Back to Astronomy Start Page

Back to Space Page

Back to English Main Page

Back to Start Page