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Columba

Quick Facts

Name:Columba
ko-LUM-bah
Meaning:Dove
Abbreviation:Col
Genitive:Columbae
Visible in Latitudes:45° thru -90°
Viewing Season:Winter
Best Seen In:February, 9:00 pm
Transit Date:December 16
Right Ascension:5.76 hours
Declination:-35.3 degrees
Area:270.184 sq. degrees

Star Diagram

Star Diagram: Columba

About Columba

Columbia, Noah's dove, was first formally published in 1679 by Royer. It appeared some 76 years earlier in Bayer's plate of Canis Major and in his text as recentioribus Columba. However, Columba did not appear in works by Bartsch, Brahe, Hevelius or even Flamsteed. The constellation refers to the dove released several times during the voyage after the great flood to find land; it was this dove that returned with an olive branch in its beak, indicating dry land had been found.

Named Stars

 
NameStar
PhaetAlpha Col
WeznBeta Col

Neighboring Constellations

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