Lepus (constellation)

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{{#invoke:Infobox|infobox}}Template:Template other{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|preview=Page using Template:Infobox constellation with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| name | abbreviation | genitive | pronounce | symbolism | RA | dec | family | quadrant | areatotal | arearank | numbermainstars | numberbfstars | numberstarsplanets | numberbrightstars | numbernearbystars | brighteststarname | starmagnitude | neareststarname | stardistancely | stardistancepc | stardistance | numbermessierobjects | meteorshowers | bordering | latmax | latmin | month | notes }} Lepus is a constellation lying just south of the celestial equator. Its name is Latin for hare. It is located below—immediately south—of Orion (the hunter), and is sometimes represented as a hare being chased by Orion or by Orion's hunting dogs.<ref>"Sky & Telescope: March 2008", Southern Hemisphere Highlights: by Shermend</ref>

Although the hare does not represent any particular figure in Greek mythology, Lepus was one of the 48 constellations listed by the 2nd-century astronomer Ptolemy, and it remains one of the 88 modern constellations.

History and mythologyEdit

File:Sidney Hall - Urania's Mirror - Canis Major, Lepus, Columba Noachi & Cela Sculptoris.jpg

Lepus as seen in Urania's Mirror (1825)

Lepus is most often represented as a hare being hunted by Orion, whose hunting dogs (Canis Major and Canis Minor) pursue it. The constellation is also associated with the Moon rabbit.Template:Sfn

Four stars of this constellation (α, β, γ, δ Lep) form a quadrilateral and are known as ‘Arsh al-Jawzā', "the Throne of Jawzā'" or Kursiyy al-Jawzā' al-Mu'akhkhar, "the Hindmost Chair of Jawzā'" and al-Nihāl, "the Camels Quenching Their Thirst" in Arabic.

FeaturesEdit

StarsEdit

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File:LepusCC.jpg

The constellation Lepus as it can be seen by the naked eye

There are a fair number of bright stars, both single and double, in Lepus. Alpha Leporis, the brightest star of Lepus, is a white supergiant of magnitude 2.6, 1300 light-years from Earth. Its traditional name, Arneb (أرنب ’arnab), means "hare" in Arabic.<ref name="WGSN">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Beta Leporis, traditionally known as Nihal (Arabic for "quenching their thirst"),<ref name="WGSN"/> is a yellow giant of magnitude 2.8, 159 light-years from Earth. Gamma Leporis is a double star divisible in binoculars. The primary is a yellow star of magnitude 3.6, 29 light-years from Earth. The secondary is an orange star of magnitude 6.2. Delta Leporis is a yellow giant of magnitude 3.8, 112 light-years from Earth. Epsilon Leporis is an orange giant of magnitude 3.2,<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> 227 light-years from Earth. Kappa Leporis is a double star divisible in medium aperture amateur telescopes, 560 light-years from Earth. The primary is a blue-white star of magnitude 4.4 and the secondary is a star of magnitude 7.4.Template:Sfn

There are several variable stars in Lepus. R Leporis is a Mira variable star. It is also called "Hind's Crimson Star" for its striking red color and because it was named for John Russell Hind. It varies in magnitude from a minimum of 9.8 to a maximum of 7.3, with a period of 420 days. R Leporis is at a distance of 1500 light-years. The color intensifies as the star brightens.Template:Sfn It can be as dim as magnitude 12 and as bright as magnitude 5.5.Template:Sfn T Leporis is also a Mira variable observed in detail by ESO's Very Large Telescope Interferometer.<ref>Unique Details Of Double Star In Orion Nebula And Star T Leporis Captured By 'Virtual' Telescope. ScienceDaily. Retrieved February 19, 2009, [1]</ref> RX Leporis is a semi-regular red giant that has a period of 2 months. It has a minimum magnitude of 7.4 and a maximum magnitude of 5.0.Template:Sfn

Deep-sky objectsEdit

There is one Messier object in Lepus, M79. It is a globular cluster of magnitude 8.0, 42,000 light-years from Earth. One of the few globular clusters visible in the Northern Celestial Hemisphere's winter, it is a Shapley class V cluster, which means that it has an intermediate concentration towards its center. It is often described as having a "starfish" shape.

M79 was discovered in 1780 by Pierre Méchain.Template:Sfn