Vela the Sail is a constellation in the Southern Hemisphere that is part of a large ship made up of other constellations. The ship was once known as Argo Navis. Because of its large size, it has since been broken down into four different, smaller constellations. They include Vela the Sail, Carina the Keel, Puppis the Stern, and Pyxis the Compass.
How to Locate Vela the Sail
Vela is found north of Carina. It is halfway between Carina's very bright star (and the second brightest in the sky) Canopus, and the distinctive shape of the Southern Cross, or Crux. It is just a bit north, or toward the horizon, from a line drawn between these two points. Vela is best seen in the summer for those in the Southern Hemisphere.
The Stars of Vela
The brightest star in Vela is Alpha Velorum, or Regor. It shines at magnitude 1.75 and lies 841 light-years from Earth. A little over 9 degrees away and similar in brightness is Delta Velorum, at magnitude 1.93, it is only 80 light-years away.
Three second magnitude stars are also found in Vela. The first is about five and a half degrees from the last star, Delta Velorum. This star is Kappa Velorum, which has a magnitude of 2.47 and a distance of 539 light-years. Suhail, another named star that is also known as Lambda Velorum, shines at magnitude 2.23 from a distance of 573 light-years. The last 2nd magnitude star is Mu Velorum, which lies on the opposite half of the constellation from the brightest star, Regor. Mu Velorum is magnitude 2.69 and 116 light-years away.
Deep-Sky Objects in Vela
Because Vela lies along the Milky Way, it has a number of star clusters than can be swept up in binoculars or average telescopes. The Eight-burst planetary nebula lies right on the border with Vela and Antlia (the Air Pump). The Eight-burst nebula is an 8th magnitude planetary nebula ring with a central star. It is also sometimes referred to as the Southern Ring Nebula, with the designation NGC 3132. Its central star is actually a binary star.
NGC 3201 is a globular cluster about five and a half degrees northwest from Mu Velorum. It shines at magnitude 6.8. Some brighter star clusters lie in the western part of the constellation. Two degrees south of Regor is NGC 2547, at magnitude 4.7. Five degrees east is IC 2395, at magnitude 4. Just less than two degrees northwest of Delta Velorum is IC 2391, a gathering of stars that can be seen easily with the unaided eye at magnitude 2. Through binoculars a second cluster pops into view nearby, NGC 2669.
Vela is a southern delight for those wishing to spy star clusters in the Milky Way.
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