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Andromeda Constellation Aquarius (the water bearer) Constellation Aquila (the Eagle) Constellation Auriga Constellation Big Dipper Constellation Bootes Constellation Canes Venatici (hunting dogs) Constellation Canis Major Constellation Canis Minor Capricornus (The Sea Goat) Constellation Carina (keel of a ship) Constellation Cassiopeia Constellation Centaurus Constellation Cetus Constellation Corvus (crow) Constellation Crater (cup) Constellation Cygnus Constellation Dorado (golden fish) Constellation Draco (dragon or serpent) Constellation Gemini Constellation Hydra Constellation Leo (the lion) Constellation Libra (the scales) Constellation Lupus (the wolf) Constellation Lynx Constellation Lyra Constellation Monoceros (Unicorn) Constellation Ophiuchus (serpent bearer) Constellation Orion (the hunter) Constellation Pegasus (the winged horse) Constellation Perseus Constellation Phoenix Constellation Pisces (fish) Constellation Puppis Constellation Sagittarius (archer) Constellation Scorpius Constellation Scutum (shield) Constellation Serpens Constellation Taurus (the bull) Constellation Triangulum Australe Constellation Tucana Constellation Ursa Major (big bear) Constellation Ursa Minor (little dipper) Constellation Vela (the sail) Constellation Virgo (the maiden) Constellation Zodiac

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Vela (the sail) Constellation


Credit: Graphic illustration of the Vela (the sail) constellation. Credit: Chandra
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Vela (the sail) Constellation -- Location: Mostly Southern Hemisphere, low on the horizon in the Northern Hemisphere; Coordinates: Right Ascension: 09h; Declination: -50�; Source: Modern constellation by astronomer Abbe Nicholas de Lacaille

The story behind the name: Vela, the Sails, was originally part of Argo Navis, the ship of Jason and his Argonauts.

When the International Astronomical Union officially defined the 88 constellations and their boundaries, the constellation (the ship) was divided into three smaller constellations: Vela, Puppis (the deck), and Carina (the keel).

To read more about Argo Navis and Jason and his Argonauts, see Carina.

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Chandra

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