Carina

Carina contains Canopus, the second brightest star in the night sky. The constellation lies in the rich southern Milky Way and hosts the spectacular Carina Nebula (NGC 3372), one of the largest and brightest nebulae in the sky, home to the massive star Eta Carinae.

Location in the Sky

When to Observe

Carina is best observed during March. It is located in the SQ2 quadrant and is primarily visible from the southern hemisphere. The constellation contains 9 main stars forming its asterism, with 52 Bayer/Flamsteed designated stars in total. Its brightest star is Canopus.

Mythology & History

Carina was originally part of the large ancient constellation Argo Navis, representing the ship of Jason and the Argonauts. Lacaille divided Argo Navis into three smaller constellations in the 1750s: Carina (the keel), Puppis (the stern), and Vela (the sails). The ship carried Jason on his quest for the Golden Fleece.