| Puppis | |
| Abbreviation: | Pup |
| Genitive: | Puppis |
| Pronounce: | , genitive the same |
| Symbolism: | the Poop Deck |
| Family: | Heavenly Waters |
| Quadrant: | SQ2 |
| Areatotal: | 673 |
| Arearank: | 20th |
| Numbermainstars: | 9 |
| Numberbfstars: | 76 |
| Numberstarsplanets: | 6 |
| Numberbrightstars: | 1 |
| Numbernearbystars: | 3 |
| Brighteststarname: | ζ Pup (Naos) |
| Starmagnitude: | 2.25 |
| Neareststarname: | LHS 1989 |
| Stardistancely: | 19.67 |
| Stardistancepc: | 6.03 |
| Numbermessierobjects: | 3 |
| Bordering: | Monoceros Pyxis Vela Carina Pictor Columba Canis Major Hydra |
| Latmax: | 40 |
| Latmin: | 90 |
| Month: | February |
Puppis ("stern") is a constellation in the southern sky. It was originally part of the traditional constellation of Argo Navis (the ship of Jason and the Argonauts), which was divided into three parts, the other two being Carina (the keel and hull), and Vela (the sails). Puppis is the largest of the three constellations in square degrees. It is one of the 88 modern constellations recognized by the International Astronomical Union.
The constellation of Argo Navis is recorded in Greek texts, derived from ancient Egypt around 1000 BC. According to Plutarch, its equivalent in Egyptian astronomy was the "Boat of Osiris".[1]
As Argo Navis was roughly 28% larger than the next largest constellation, Hydra,[2] it was sub-divided into three sections in 1752 by the French astronomer Nicolas Louis de Lacaille, including Puppis, which he referred to as "Argûs in puppi". Despite the division, Lacaille kept a single set of Bayer designations for the whole constellation, Argo. Therefore, Carina has the α, β, and ε, Vela has γ and δ, Puppis has ζ, and so on.[3] In 1844, John Herschel proposed complete dividing Argo Navis in accordance with Lacaille's divisions.[4] However, the constellation continued to be used into the 20th century, and officially received a three-letter designation alongside its divisions in 1922.[5] Puppis, along with Carina and Vela, was included in the list of modern IAU constellations in 1930.[6]
See also: List of stars in Puppis.
| Designation | Name | Origin | Meaning | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ζ Puppis | Naos | Greek | ship | |
| π Puppis | Ahadi | Arabic | having much promise | |
| ρ Puppis | Tureis | Arabic | shield | |
| ξ Puppis | Asmidiske | Greek | gunwale | |
| HD 48265 | Nosaxa | Mocoví | springtime |
Several extrasolar planet systems have been found around stars in the constellation Puppis, including:
As the Milky Way runs through Puppis, there are many open clusters in the constellation. M46 and M47 are two open clusters in the same binocular field. M47 can be seen with the naked eye under dark skies, and its brightest stars are 6th magnitude. Messier 93 (M93) is another open cluster somewhat to the south. NGC 2451 is a very bright open cluster containing the star c Puppis, and the near NGC 2477 is a good target for small telescopes. The star Pi Puppis is the main component of a bright group of stars known as Collinder 135.
M46 is a circular open cluster with an overall magnitude of 6.1 at a distance of approximately 5400 light-years from Earth. The planetary nebula NGC 2438 is superimposed; it is approximately 2900 light-years from Earth. M46 is classified as a Shapley class f and a Trumpler class III 2 m cluster. This means that it is a rich cluster that appears distinct from the star field, despite not being at its center. The cluster's stars, numbering between 50 and 100, have a moderate range in brightness.