Ara: The Celestial Splendor in the Southern Sky
The Southern sky may not be as well-known as the Northern hemisphere, but it holds some of the most beautiful celestial wonders. One of which is Ara, the Altar constellation, named after the altar used by ancient Greeks for offerings to the gods.
Location of Ara
Ara is located in the Southern Hemisphere, between the constellations of Scorpius and Triangulum Australe. It is visible at latitudes between +25° and -90° and can be seen from May to August. The constellation covers an area of 237 square degrees and contains five bright stars.
Stars in Ara
There are five stars that make up the Ara constellation, four of which form a quadrilateral shape that represents the altar. The brightest star in Ara is Beta Arae, also known as Cervantes. It is a blue-white giant star, located approximately 641 light-years from Earth. The second-brightest star, Gamma Arae, is also a blue-white giant, located 112 light-years away from Earth.
Ara also contains two notable binary star systems, Eta Arae, and Zeta Arae. Eta Arae is a binary system comprised of two blue-white giants, located approximately 310 light-years away from Earth. Zeta Arae is a binary system comprised of two orange giants, located approximately 570 light-years away from Earth.
Deep-Sky Objects in Ara
Ara also contains some fascinating deep-sky objects, including galaxies, nebulas, and star clusters. One of the most prominent objects is the NGC 6188, a diffuse emission nebula that is located alongside two star clusters, NGC 6193 and NGC 6167. The nebula is illuminated by nearby hot young stars, giving it a beautiful glow.
Another notable object is the Wolf-Rayet star HD 15558, located in the outskirts of Ara. It is a massive, highly luminous star that is thought to be in the final stages of its life. The star is surrounded by an emission nebula, making it even more beautiful to observe.
Conclusion
Ara may not be as well-known as other constellations in the Southern Hemisphere, but it holds its own beauty and wonder. From its quadrilateral shape representing the ancient Greeks’ altar to its deep-sky objects, Ara is worth observing in the Southern skies.