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public Observing fromLocation: Greenwich, United Kingdom edit_location_alt
SunriseRise: 6:04  
clear_day Transit: 12:06  
SunsetSet: 18:09
sunny DaytimeWhat's Visible Now?
All Constellations » 

Carina (The Keel) Constellation

Altitude: -62.2°   Azimuth: 231.7°   Direction: South-West

Carina (pronounced kəˈraɪnə) is the Latin name of a large constellation (in fact it extends itself for about 50 degrees across the sky) 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 Keel" while in astronomical texts and literature this constellation is often abbreviated as "Car" (according to the standard of the International Astronomical Union - IAU) or as "Cari" (according to a naming convention used by NASA).

The Latin genitive of the constellation name is "Carinae" (pronounced kəˈraɪniː) 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 Carinae (the brightest star of Carina based on the Bayer catalog); or 23 Carinae (the 23th star in the constellation of Carina based on the Flamsteed catalog).

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

Sky Chart of Carina Constellation

Here we provide a simplified sky chart of the Carina constellation. Alternatively it is possible to locate Carina 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 Carina Constellation

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

Carina 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 (like Carina actually is) these times can have little relevance.

Bright Stars in Carina Constellation

The table below lists the top 20 brightest stars in the Carina constellation. See also the complete list of 210 stars brighter than magnitude 6.5 (approximate) in the constellation of Carina. Click on each star to see more details about it.

HR Number(*) Star designation Proper name Visual magnitude Color Notes
HR2326 α Carinae Canopus -0.72
HR3685 β Carinae Miaplacidus 1.68
HR3307 ε Carinae Avior 1.86 Variable;
HR3699 ι Carinae Aspidiske 2.25 Variable;
HR4199 θ Carinae 2.76
HR4140 3.32 Variable;
HR4037 ω Carinae 3.32
HR4050 3.4 Variable; Multiple;
HR3659 3.44 Variable;
HR3117 χ Carinae 3.47 Variable;
HR3884 3.69 Variable;
HR4257 3.78 Variable; Multiple;
HR4114 3.82 Variable;
HR3571 3.84 Double;
HR4337 3.91 Variable;
HR3663 3.97
HR4102 4 Variable;
HR3825 4.08
HR3457 4.33 Variable; Double;
HR3696 4.34 Variable;
...go to the complete list of 210 bright stars in the constellation of Carina

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

Deep Sky Objects in Carina Constellation

The table below lists the 20 brightest deep sky objects in the Carina constellation. See also the complete list of 61 deep sky objects in the constellation of Carina. The list includes objects from the Messier, New General Catalogue (NGC) and Index Catalogue (IC).

Name Type Magnitude
NGC 3372 (Carina Nebula) HII Ionized region 3 (B)
NGC 3532 (Wishing Well Cluster) Open Cluster 3 (V)
NGC 2516 Open Cluster 3.8 (V)
NGC 3114 Open Cluster 4.2 (V)
IC 2581 Open Cluster 4.3 (V)
NGC 3293 Open Cluster 4.7 (V)
NGC 2808 Globular Cluster 5.69 (V)
NGC 3572 Open Cluster 6.6 (V)
NGC 3324 Star Cluster + Nebula 6.7 (V)
IC 2488 Open Cluster 7.4 (V)
NGC 3247 HII Ionized region 7.6 (V)
NGC 3519 Open Cluster 7.7 (V)
Mel101 Open Cluster 8 (V)
NGC 3496 Open Cluster 8.2 (V)
NGC 3590 Open Cluster 8.2 (V)
IC 2714 Open Cluster 8.2 (V)
Mel105 Open Cluster 8.5 (V)
NGC 2867 Planetary Nebula 9.7 (V)
IC 2553 Planetary Nebula 10.3 (V)
IC 2501 Planetary Nebula 10.4 (V)
...go to the complete list of 61 deep sky objects in the constellation of Carina