night sky of the Northern Hemisphere contains not only as extensive and visible objects, like the Orion and Ursa Major.There are many and they are significantly inferior in size constellations.The relatively small size, however, does not make such celestial figures less interesting.Constellation Dolphin - one of these objects.It occupies a relatively small area, but it hosted some rather curious objects.
Legend
Constellation Dolphin children first appears during acquaintance with Greek mythology.In one of the legends of the god of the oceans, Poseidon kindled a passion Nereid Amfetrite.Belle did not want to be a lover of the sea and the owner ran away from him.Return Nereid helped the Dolphin.Grateful Poseidon in return gave him a place in heaven.Since the constellation of the Dolphin, and is decorated with a dome overhead.
Accommodation
have unobtrusive Dolphin bright enough neighbors.Constellation is located near the Summer Triangle asterism formed by such well-known luminaries as Vega, Deneb and Altair.With dolphins and border Celestial Pictures Eagle, Pegasus, Arrows, Small horse, chanterelles and Aquarius.You can watch it on clear nights almost the entire territory of Russia, except the northern regions.The ideal time - from June to September.The characteristic shape of the constellation (reminiscent of a kite) makes it easily recognizable, of course, in the absence of clouds and other factors that impair visibility.
asterism
Constellation Dolphin in the sky covers an area of 189 square degrees.It consists of thirty bodies, which can be distinguished by the naked eye.However, only three of them may be called more or less bright because characterized fourth magnitude.All of them are included in the main asterism of this heavenly figure, called Job's Coffin.In total it is four stars.This is an alpha, beta, gamma and epsilon Dolphin.
first brightness
Beta constellation is the most prominent point of this heavenly figure.Its brightness is estimated at 3,63m.Luminary is called Rotan and is located in 97 St.years from the sun.Beta Dolphin - multiple system consisting of two components.Both of them belong to subgiants spectral class F5.The distance separating the two stars are very small, so the couple is not discernible in each telescope.The luminosity of the brighter component of the system is 18 times higher than the sun setting.This is less noticeable characteristic of stars 8 times greater than our sun.
system components rotate with a period of 26.7 years.According to the research, their masses exceed the sun is about 2.5 times.
Alpha
luminary described above is slightly inferior in brightness Saulotsin.It is the alpha constellation also is a dual system.Its main component is a spectral class B9.From the Sun it separates the distance of 240 light years.A characteristic feature common to all the stars of this type - a quick spin.The speed at the equator is 160 km / s.This is about 70 times greater than that of the sun.To date, scientists have not determined the exact type Saulotsina.According to some data it refers to a simple main-sequence stars.The results of some calculations allow to define it as subgiant at the beginning of the evolutionary path.
The second component of the system is remote from the first to the 12 astronomical units.They rotate with a period of 17 years.Apparently, satellite Saulotsina in many ways similar to Sirius.
Origin names
Contrary to custom, the names of the alpha and beta Dolphins are not Arabic or Greek terms.For the first time the name appeared in the catalog, released at the beginning of the XIX century in the observatory of Palermo.Somewhat later, the British astronomer Thomas William Webb discovered that the names and Rotanev Saulocin when read from right to left give the name of Nicolaus Venator.So called assistant astronomer Piazzi Kachatore.Which of the two, Nicolaus himself or his superior, was the author of such titles is still a mystery.
Interest
Constellation Dolphin seats on its territory rather modest not only light.Here are located the nebula NGC 6891 and NGC 6905. The first of these has a magnitude of 11, and the second - 12. Both, like himself, the heavenly pattern, rather small in size.
In addition, the constellation of the Dolphin decorated globular cluster NGC 6934. Located near Epsilon is this heavenly pattern.Rather large globular cluster is characterized by the magnitude to 8,9m.The second is similar to it an object, NGC 7006, it is also considered to be quite bright.From Earth it is separated by about 185 thousand light years.
But that's not all - there's another object that adorns the constellation of the Dolphin.Picture it quite easy to find on the Internet.This new Dolphin 2013 unique objects that shortly before its opening, it was known as the dim light of 17th magnitude.When she was discovered by amateur astronomer Koichi Itagaki, it was much brighter.Scientists estimate the star suddenly there was light in the 25 thousand times stronger.Probably, it relates to a classic New.These objects represent the binary system of a white dwarf and a massive cold light.Due to the small distance between the material flows more stars to smaller components, and it is warmed up.As a result, sooner or later there is an explosion, in which the stars remain intact.These lights may blink repeatedly.
small constellation of the Dolphin, as can be seen, is closely monitored by astronomers.Perhaps it will present more surprises.
