The Vulpecula constellation
Vul · Catalogue stars: 11
Why this name?
Originally, this was a little fox carrying a goose in its mouth. The name was later shortened, leaving only the small constellation of the Fox on modern charts.
A little history
Johannes Hevelius introduced the figure in the seventeenth century. Its brightest star’s name, Anser, Latin for ‘goose’, recalls the bird in the old drawing.
Data
- IAU code
- Vul
- Catalogue stars
- 11
- Messier objects
- 1
- Brightest star
- Anser · 4.4ᵐ
Messier objects
Stars
Stars (HIP)
- HIP 99874 · 4.5ᵐ · K3III
- HIP 103004 · 4.6ᵐ · G8III
- HIP 97886 · 4.6ᵐ · B9.5III
- HIP 98543 · 4.7ᵐ · A4III
- HIP 94703 · 4.8ᵐ · B4IV
- HIP 99824 · 4.8ᵐ · B3V
- HIP 101867 · 4.8ᵐ · A0V
- HIP 97679 · 4.9ᵐ · B2.5V
- HIP 102388 · 4.9ᵐ · K2III
- HIP 96275 · 5.0ᵐ · B8IIIn
Altitude above the horizon by latitude
| Latitude | Maximum altitude | Rise azimuth |
|---|---|---|
| +60° | 54° | 36° |
| +55° | 59° | 45° |
| +45° | 69° | 55° |
| +30° | 84° | 62° |
| 0° | 66° | 66° |
| −35° | 31° | 60° |
Geometric altitude at upper culmination, atmospheric refraction not included. Positive latitudes are in the northern hemisphere.
Culmination time by month
| Month | Culmination |
|---|---|
| January | 12:19 |
| February | 10:12 |
| March | 08:27 |
| April | 06:33 |
| May | 04:39 |
| June | 02:33 |
| July | 00:29 |
| August | 22:28 |
| September | 20:35 |
| October | 18:46 |
| November | 16:45 |
| December | 14:37 |
Upper culmination in local solar time — no time-zone or daylight-saving correction applied.
Neighbouring constellations
In brief
Which is the brightest star in Vulpecula?
Anser — 4.4ᵐ.