Delphinus, often referred to as the Dolphin constellation, is a small and distinctive constellation located in the northern celestial hemisphere. It is named after the Latin word for dolphin and is traditionally depicted as a small diamond-shaped pattern of stars representing the body of the dolphin, with a triangle of stars at one end representing its tail. Here are some key features of the Delphinus constellation:
Prominent Stars
Delphinus is relatively faint compared to some other constellations, but it contains several notable stars. The brightest star is Alpha Delphini, also known as Sualocin, with a magnitude of approximately 3.77. Beta Delphini, also called Rotanev, is another prominent star in the constellation, with a magnitude of approximately 3.63.
Deep-Sky Objects
While Delphinus doesn’t contain many deep-sky objects, it is home to a few notable ones. NGC 6891 is a planetary nebula located in the constellation, often referred to as the “Blue Flash Nebula” due to its bluish appearance.
Mythology
In Greek mythology, Delphinus is associated with the story of the sea god Poseidon (Neptune in Roman mythology) and the princess Amphitrite. According to myth, Poseidon sent the dolphin Delphinus to retrieve Amphitrite and bring her back to him. As a reward for its service, Poseidon placed Delphinus in the sky as a constellation.
Observation
Delphinus is best seen during the summer months in the Northern Hemisphere, typically from July to September. In August and September it reaches its highest point in the sky during the late evening hours.
Despite its small size and relatively faint stars, Delphinus is easy to identify due to its distinctive diamond shape. It can be found between the larger constellations of Aquila and Cygnus.
Star Magnitudes
Below are the magnitudes and distances of some notable stars in the Delphinus constellation:
Alpha Delphini (Sualocin) – Magnitude: 3.77. Distance: 241 light-years
Beta Delphini (Rotanev) – Magnitude: 3.63. Distance: 97 light-years
Gamma Delphini – Magnitude: 4.27. Distance: 102 light-years
Delta Delphini – Magnitude: 4.43. Distance: 203 light-years
Epsilon Delphini – Magnitude: 4.03. Distance: 358 light-years
