Corona Borealis — the Northern Crown constellation
Corona Borealis, the Northern Crown, is a small but distinctive northern constellation noted for its semicircular pattern, mythological origins, bright star Alphecca, and the irregular variable R Coronae Borealis.
Overview
Corona Borealis, Latin for "northern crown," is a compact constellation in the northern celestial hemisphere distinguished by a curved, crown-like arrangement of stars. It has been recognized since antiquity and is one of the constellations preserved in the classical lists used by later astronomers.
Image gallery
6 Images
Stars and notable objects
The constellation's most prominent star is Alpha Coronae Borealis, commonly called Alphecca or Gemma, a bright star that is actually a close stellar system when examined with instruments. Corona Borealis also contains R Coronae Borealis, the namesake of a class of unusual variable stars that unpredictably fade when carbon-rich dust forms in their atmospheres. Beyond individual stars, the region includes faint galaxies and galaxy clusters; one well-known large-scale feature named for the constellation is the Corona Borealis Supercluster, a concentration of galaxies studied in extragalactic astronomy.
Location and visibility
Corona Borealis lies among several northern constellations and is often located by finding the semicircular pattern to the east of Boötes and south of the bright star Arcturus in spring evenings for observers in mid-northern latitudes. Its compact shape makes it relatively easy to spot on a clear night despite containing only a modest number of bright stars.
History and mythology
In classical mythology the crown is associated with Ariadne, who received a jeweled diadem from the god Dionysus; in some versions the crown was set among the stars as an honor. The name and idea of a crown date from Greco-Roman tradition and were carried into medieval and modern star catalogs. Corona Borealis is one of the constellations listed by early astronomers and retained among the 88 modern constellations.
Importance and distinctions
Though small in sky area, Corona Borealis is notable for its easily recognized asterism and for lending its name to the R Coronae Borealis class of variable stars. It also serves as a convenient reference region for observational astronomy and for studies of galaxy clustering in deep surveys. For further basic reference, see Corona Borealis constellation.
Summary
Corona Borealis combines a simple visual form with a mix of classical mythology and modern scientific interest: a bright, memorable arc of stars that connects cultural stories with ongoing astronomical research.
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Author
AlegsaOnline.com Corona Borealis — the Northern Crown constellation Leandro Alegsa
URL: https://en.alegsaonline.com/art/23179