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> Constellation of Lepus

Constellation of Lepus

author: A.Fujii/David Malin Images/Novapix

reference: a-cst47-00005

Image Size 300 DPI: 40 * 51 cm

Despite the faintness of its stars, Lepus (the Hare) was known in ancient Greece, as was Orion the hunter, at whose feet it resides, inconspicuously. The hare (or rabbit) is a creature traditionally associated with the Moon, since, with imagination, the man in the Moon features can also be seen as a rabbit. This connection with Orion makes mythological sense, since the Moon was perpetually chased across the sky by the Sun and Orion is a Sun god. Lepus is a middling-sized constellation, ranking 51 in in size in the modern 88. Its brightest star is Alpha Leporis (Arneb), from the Arabic al-arnab meaning 'the hare'. Also visible in the image is R Leporis, Hind's Crimson star, whose brightness varies over 5 magnitudes (100 times) over a period of 423 days. It is a carbon star and at its maximum is a fine sight in a small telescope or good binoculars.  

Keywords for this photo:

ASTRONOMY - CARBON STAR - CONSTELLATION - LEPUS - LINE - MAP - ORION - R LEPORIS - SIRIUS - STAR - VARIABLE STAR -