Overview

Corona Borealis, also known as the Northern Crown, is a small but distinct constellation in the northern celestial hemisphere. Its name translates to “northern crown” in Latin, referring to its​ shape resembling a crown worn by ancient ⁣Greek and Roman emperors.

This ​constellation is home to several notable stars and deep-sky ⁣objects,‌ making it an intriguing sight for ​stargazers and astronomers.

Star Alpha CrB – Alphecca

Alpha CrB, commonly⁢ known as Alphecca ‌or Gemma, is the brightest star in the Corona Borealis ​constellation. It shines with a magnitude of 2.2, making it easily visible⁤ to the naked eye. Alphecca is a binary star system,⁤ consisting of a primary star and a companion ‍star.

Alphecca is of particular ‌interest as it is classified as a Delta Scuti variable star. These types of stars exhibit subtle rapid variations in brightness due to pulsations occurring within the⁣ star’s interior.

Alphecca’s position within the⁢ constellation marks the jewel of the crown, adding to ‌its allure for amateur astronomers.

Deep-Sky Objects

1. NGC ‌6085

NGC 6085 is a spiral galaxy located in the Corona Borealis constellation. It is approximately 100 million light-years away ⁢from Earth and has a ⁤visual magnitude of 12.7. This galaxy showcases beautiful ‍spiral arms ​and a bright central ‍region, making it a rewarding target for astrophotography.

2.​ R ⁢Coronae Borealis

Part of the constellation’s charm lies in its variable stars. R Coronae Borealis is one ‍such example. This peculiar star is known ‍for its irregular and unpredictable ⁤fading, often losing up to 8 magnitudes of brightness. Scientists believe‍ this​ is due to a combination of stellar mass loss and the presence of carbon dust clouds in its atmosphere.

These unique ‌properties make R Coronae Borealis an intriguing object to study, providing valuable insights into stellar evolution processes.

Mythology

The ancient Greeks associated the constellation Corona Borealis with⁤ various myths. One of the ⁢famous ⁢myths linked to this ⁣constellation involves the marriage of Bacchus (Dionysus) and Princess Ariadne, daughter‍ of King⁢ Minos of Crete.‍ As a‌ token of his love, Bacchus gave Ariadne a ‍beautiful‌ crown, which was later placed in⁢ the heavens as the Corona Borealis.

Other cultures also observed and named the constellation, such as the Hindus who saw it as the barrel of the Nanda, a sacred vessel‌ associated with the ​moon.