'Lupus' (
IPA: , ) is a southern
constellation. It is one of the 88 modern constellations and was also one of the 48 in
Ptolemy's
Almagest. It is between
Centaurus and
Scorpius.
Notable features
Lupus has no extremely bright
stars, but has around thirty stars of second and third
magnitude and 70 of greater than sixth, including a number of
binary or multiple stars. Among the stars which make up the constellation figure, only a few are named stars, the brightest is
α Lupi, or Men, a
blue giant.
β Lupi has the name Ke Kouan.
Notable deep sky objects
Towards the north of the constellation are
globular clusters
NGC 5824 and
NGC 5986, and close by the dark
nebula B 228. Two
open clusters are to the south of the constellation,
NGC 5822 and
NGC 5749. On the western border are two
spiral galaxies and the
Wolf-Rayet planetary nebula IC 4406, containing some of the hottest stars in existence. Another planetary nebula,
NGC 5882, is towards the centre of the constellation.
Mythology and history
The constellation has no clear mythology, but is sometimes associated with the tale of
King Lycaon. Although known from ancient times no particular animal was associated with it until the Latin translation of Ptolemy's work identified it with the wolf. It was not separated from Centaurus until
Hipparchus of
Bithynia named it ''Therion'' (meaning ''beast'') in the
200s BC. Prior to its separation it was considered an
asterism of Centaurus, and was considered to have been an arbitrary animal, killed, or about to be killed, on behalf of, or for, Centaurus. As such, together with other constellations in the
Zodiac sign of
Virgo (specifically,
Sagitta, and
Centaurus) it may have formed the basis of the tale of the
Erymanthian Boar, one of
The Twelve Labours of
Heracles.
Reference
★ Ian Ridpath and Wil Tirion (2007). ''Collins Stars and Planets Guide'', HarperCollins, London. ISBN 978-0007251209.
External links
★
Star Tales – Lupus
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