Corona Borealis, mythology, history, characteristics and observations by telescope

According to one old legend, it was the crown of Ariadna, of the Greek, artadna, daughter of Minos and Pasifae. When Teseo went Crete to give death to the Minotauro, Ariadna fell in love with him and it gave the famous thread him, thanks to which the hero could find the exit of the labyrinth. Teseo took with himself to the girl, but, according to the tradition commonest, it left it, slept in the island of Naxos, taking advantage of a scale the boat; there it found the God Dioniso and it did his wife, giving to him as present nuptial a magnificent gold crown made by Hefesto, that was turned this constellation later.

Corona Borealis is a precious constellation next to Arturus, or Bootis that shines in the North hemisphere during the primaverales nights. It crosses the parallel of +30º being difficult to observe in the South hemisphere. One is to 0º to the north of the galactic equator, reason why we can observe in her few stellar or globular accumulations. One is integrated between Hercules and Bootes, limiting with her the north and this, however, the south it limits with Serpens Caput (SCp) and the west and the north with Hercules.

It is formed by shining stars whose form of crown is easy to identify. I located the 18 to it of March of 1982 at the age of 14 years. Visible during the boreal spring its identification is very simple.

Constelación de Corona Borealis

Main stars

Alpha, a; of Alphecca name that in Arab means the brilliant of I beg, or Gemma, or per it of Corona, magnitude 2.2 and white, dista 75 years light of us. One formed in the accumulation of the Hyades in Taurus.

Beta, b; of magnitude 3.66 Nusakan is denominated, is of yellow color. One is a periodic variable of 18 days. Also it is a spectroscopic binary system. Also one formed in the accumulation of the Hyades.

Gamma, g; of magnitude 3.82 it comprises of a triple system, of magnitude 4.20 and white color. Earth light is to 140 years, is 40 times more shining than the Sun.

Delta, d; of magnitude 4.60 yellow, is to 165 years light of us and is 31 times more luminous than our Sun.

Other objects

D O U B L E	Nom:z	R.A.: 15h.37m.	Dec: 36º48'
Mag: 5.1, 6.0	Sep.: 6.4"	P.A.: 306º	Nat: ph	Spec.:A,A
AOC: 395	DSC: 282	D.D.S.: 23h.51m.(UT); 17-July-1985

NOTE: One is in a poor zone; there is a small difference of magnitude, are little separated, both components are white, it is one very pretty double, is unfolded without difficulty with the eyeglass of 50x.

D O U B L E	Nom: s	R.A.: 16h.13m.	Dec: 33º59'
Mag: 5.8, 6.7	Sep.: 6.6"	P.A.: 233º	Nat: O	Spec.: A, B
AOC: 396	DSC: 283	D.D.S.: 23h.56m.(UT); 17-July-1985

NOTE: One is in a poor zone in stars, is a slight difference of magnitude, are together the main one is white, however, the secondary one is bluish, easy to locate, is unfolded with the eyeglass of 50x.

D O U B L E	Nom:S 1964	R.A.: 15h.36m.	Dec: 36º24'
Mag: 7.1, 7.3, 8.2	Sep.(AB): 15" Sep.(AC): 1.6"	P.A.(AB): 86º P.A.(AC): 16º	Nat(AB): f Nat(AC): O	Spec.:A,B,?
AOC: 397	DSC: 284	D.D.S.: 00h.02m.(UT); 18-July-1985

NOTE: One is in a poor zone; there is a small difference of magnitude between components AB, they are slightly separated, and this component with 50x is unfolded. Component AC is very together, unfolding itself with the eyeglass of 100x, has, in addition a remarkable difference to magnitude. In a set it is a showy triple.

D O U B L E	Nom:S 1963	R.A.: 15h.36m.	Dec: 30º16'
Mag: 8.8, 9.1	Sep.: 5.2"	P.A.: 295º	Nat:ph	Spec.:?
AOC: 774	DSC: 573	D.D.S.: 00h.10m.(UT); 29-March-1987

NOTE: One is in a partially rich zone; it is formed by two quite together stars that are unfolded with 50x, is a small difference of magnitude, profit not to identify the colors due to the weakness of these, costs a little to identify them due to his brightness.

D O U B L E	Nom:S 1973	R.A.: 15h.45m.	Dec: 36º36'
Mag: 8.0, 9.2	Sep.: 31"	P.A.: 322º	Nat:?	Spec.:A,B
AOC: 775	DSC: 574	D.D.S.: 00h.16m.(UT); 29-March-1987

NOTE: one is in a partially rich zone, 6; there is a slight difference of magnitude between the components formed by two stars being the main white and secondary the bluish one, is unfolded without difficulty with the eyeglass of 50x; one is one pretty double, 7.

Next in the following window you can select the constellation that you want to locate, to observe and to discover following with the thematic one of the Web of Masm.