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
About ColumbaColumbia, 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 | | | | Name | Star |
|---|
| Phaet | Alpha Col | | Wezn | Beta Col |
Neighboring Constellations | 
