Corona Australis

Corona Australis is a small constellation adjacent to Sagittarius in the southern sky. Its arc of stars is fainter than its northern counterpart Corona Borealis. The constellation contains the Corona Australis molecular cloud, an active star-forming region only about 430 light-years away.

Location in the Sky

When to Observe

Corona Australis is best observed during August. It is located in the SQ4 quadrant and is primarily visible from the southern hemisphere. The constellation contains 6 main stars forming its asterism, with 12 Bayer/Flamsteed designated stars in total. Its brightest star is Meridiana.

Mythology & History

Corona Australis was known to the ancient Greeks, who saw it as a wreath or crown at the feet of Sagittarius. It has been associated with the crown placed in the sky by Dionysus, or the crown of the centaur Sagittarius. Despite its small size, it was one of the 48 constellations listed by Ptolemy in the 2nd century.