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public Observing fromLocation: Greenwich, United Kingdom edit_location_alt
SunriseRise: 6:04  
clear_day Transit: 12:06  
SunsetSet: 18:09
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All Constellations » 

Ara (The Altar) Constellation

Altitude: -21.2°   Azimuth: 154.4°   Direction: South-South-East

Ara (pronounced ˈɛərə) is the Latin name of a constellation situated south of the celestial equator. As such, it is more easily visible from the southern hemisphere.

In English language this constellation is also known as "The Altar" while in astronomical texts and literature this constellation is often abbreviated as "Ara" (according to the standard of the International Astronomical Union - IAU) or as "Arae" (according to a naming convention used by NASA).

The Latin genitive of the constellation name is "Arae" (pronounced ˈɛəriː) and it is used to identify some of the brightest stars in this constellation based on the Bayer or Flamsteed star naming convention. For instance: α Arae (the brightest star of Ara based on the Bayer catalog); or 23 Arae (the 23th star in the constellation of Ara based on the Flamsteed catalog).

Ara is below the horizon from Greenwich, United Kingdom edit_location_alt.
Available Resources for Ara

Sky Chart of Ara Constellation

Here we provide a simplified sky chart of the Ara constellation. Alternatively it is possible to locate Ara in the night sky using our Online Interactive Planetarium.

Chart of  constellation
This constellation image is derivatve work based on original work by IAU and Sky & Telescope magazine (Roger Sinnott & Rick Fienberg) CC-BY-3.0.

Visibility of Ara Constellation

Location: Greenwich, United Kingdom edit_location_alt
Latitude: 51° 28’ 47” N
Longitude: 0° 00’ 00” E
Timezone: Europe/London

Ara is currently not visible from Greenwich, United Kingdom edit_location_alt

The rise and set times provided here are just directional indications and they refer to a point approximately placed at the center of the constellation. In case of very large constellations these times can have little relevance.

Bright Stars in Ara Constellation

The table below lists the top 20 brightest stars in the Ara constellation. See also the complete list of 63 stars brighter than magnitude 6.5 (approximate) in the constellation of Ara. Click on each star to see more details about it.

HR Number(*) Star designation Proper name Visual magnitude Color Notes
HR6461 β Arae 2.85
HR6510 α Arae 2.95 Variable; Double;
HR6285 ζ Arae 3.13
HR6462 γ Arae 3.34 Multiple;
HR6500 δ Arae 3.62 Double;
HR6743 θ Arae 3.66
HR6229 η Arae 3.76 Double;
HR6295 ε1 Arae 4.06
HR6537 σ Arae 4.59
HR6569 λ Arae 4.77 Variable;
HR6585 μ Arae Cervantes 5.15
HR6468 κ Arae 5.23 Multiple;
HR6451 ι Arae 5.25 Variable; Double;
HR6549 π Arae 5.25
HR6477 5.29 Variable; Multiple;
HR6314 ε2 Arae 5.29 Double;
HR6416 5.48 Multiple;
HR6289 5.55
HR6219 5.58
HR6297 5.65 Double;
...go to the complete list of 63 bright stars in the constellation of Ara

(*) HR stands for Harvard Revised Bright Star Catalogue, which is also known as the Yale Catalogue of Bright Stars.

Deep Sky Objects in Ara Constellation

The table below lists the 20 brightest deep sky objects in the Ara constellation. See also the complete list of 31 deep sky objects in the constellation of Ara. The list includes objects from the Messier, New General Catalogue (NGC) and Index Catalogue (IC).

Name Type Magnitude
NGC 6397 Globular Cluster 5.17 (V)
NGC 6250 Star Cluster + Nebula 5.9 (V)
NGC 6167 Open Cluster 6.7 (V)
NGC 6164 Nebula 6.71 (V)
NGC 6165 Nebula 6.71 (V)
IC 4651 Open Cluster 6.9 (V)
NGC 6208 Open Cluster 7.2 (V)
NGC 6200 Open Cluster 7.4 (V)
NGC 6204 Open Cluster 8.2 (V)
NGC 6362 Globular Cluster 8.86 (V)
NGC 6352 Globular Cluster 8.87 (V)
NGC 6253 Open Cluster 10.2 (V)
IC 1266 Planetary Nebula 11.2 (V)
NGC 6215 Galaxy 11.28 (V)
NGC 6326 Planetary Nebula 12.2 (B)
NGC 6156 Galaxy 12.3 (B)
NGC 6305 Galaxy 12.61 (V)
IC 4646 Galaxy 12.65 (B)
NGC 6300 Galaxy 13.08 (V)
NGC 6328 Galaxy 13.2 (V)
...go to the complete list of 31 deep sky objects in the constellation of Ara