Unveiling the Mysteries of Corona Australis: Exploring the Stars and Beyond
Corona Australis is a constellation located in the southern sky. This constellation is named after its unique crown shape that consists of a group of stars. The crowning star cluster can only be seen under dark skies, and the constellation is visible from June through September. To see Corona Australis, you need a telescope or binoculars, and a clear night sky.
Corona Australis is rich in uncertainties and mysteries for astronomers to study and explore. Scientists have discovered many stars and planets within this constellation. One interesting fact about Corona Australis is that it is part of a giant molecular cloud called R Coronae Australis. This molecular cloud has an enormous amount of gas and dust, and it is where new stars are formed.
Exploring Corona Australis
The celestial objects in Corona Australis have a unique feature that makes it an excellent target for researchers. Astronomers are interested in the formation and evolution of stars. Due to the abundance of molecular clouds in the constellation, new stars are born in these clouds and emit various wavelengths of light that scientists use to understand their behavior.
Corona Australis is part of the Southern Hemisphere, and scientists use different telescopes to explore it in-depth. The Australian National University operates the SkyMapper Southern Sky Survey, which has mapped hundreds of millions of stars in the southern hemisphere, including Corona Australis. Researchers can use the map for further study and research, which is more valuable.
In 2016, astronomers used the European Space Agency’s Herschel Space Observatory to study the R Coronae Australis molecular cloud, which is part of Corona Australis. The scientists observed the movement of the dust particles inside the molecular cloud that could signal the formation of new stars.
New Discoveries in the Constellation
The mysteries of this constellation continue to be unveiled as researchers continue to explore the objects that make up Corona Australis. In the last few years, scientists have discovered new stars and exoplanets in Corona Australis.
Recently, a team of scientists discovered a new exoplanet named AU Microscopii b (AU Mic b), situated in the outskirts of the constellation. The exoplanet orbits a young star AU Microscopii, which is 32 light-years away from Earth. The discovery was made using the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS).
In 2020, a new group of stars was discovered in Corona Australis. The team of scientists found the star cluster using the Visible and Infrared Survey Telescope for Astronomy (VISTA) telescope, situated in Chile. The newly discovered cluster of stars contains about one thousand stars and is named VVV CL001.
Conclusion
The Corona Australis constellation is full of mysteries, and scientists are consistently exploring its objects to unveil its secrets. The study of this constellation is critical for researchers to understand the formation and evolution of the universe. Many discoveries have been made over the years, and as technology advances, there will undoubtedly be more discoveries in the constellation. Taking a look at the stars and beyond in Corona Australis provides us with a glimpse of the universe’s beauty and the opportunities it presents for new knowledge and understanding.