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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 » 

Columba (The Dove) Constellation

Altitude: -43.5°   Azimuth: 95.8°   Direction: East

Columba (pronounced koʊˈlʌmbə) 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 Dove" while in astronomical texts and literature this constellation is often abbreviated as "Col" (according to the standard of the International Astronomical Union - IAU) or as "Colm" (according to a naming convention used by NASA).

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

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

Sky Chart of Columba Constellation

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

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

Today's Columba rise, transit and set times from Greenwich, United Kingdom edit_location_alt are the following (all times relative to the local timezone Europe/London):

Azimuth: 125.7°
Max altitude: 2.8°
Azimuth: 234.3°
Columba is below the horizon from Greenwich, United Kingdom

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 Columba Constellation

The table below lists the top 20 brightest stars in the Columba constellation. See also the complete list of 78 stars brighter than magnitude 6.5 (approximate) in the constellation of Columba. Click on each star to see more details about it.

HR Number(*) Star designation Proper name Visual magnitude Color Notes
HR1956 α Columbae Phact 2.64 Variable; Double;
HR2040 β Columbae Wazn 3.12
HR2296 δ Columbae 3.85
HR1862 ε Columbae 3.87
HR2120 η Columbae 3.96
HR2106 γ Columbae 4.36 Double;
HR2256 κ Columbae 4.37 Variable;
HR1743 ο Columbae 4.83
HR2056 λ Columbae 4.87 Variable;
HR2087 ξ Columbae 4.97
HR2177 θ Columbae Elkurud 5.02
HR1996 μ Columbae 5.17 Variable;
HR2399 5.24
HR1973 5.29
HR1935 ν2 Columbae 5.31
HR2411 5.42
HR1958 5.45
HR1877 5.48
HR2181 π2 Columbae 5.5 Double;
HR2092 σ Columbae 5.5
...go to the complete list of 78 bright stars in the constellation of Columba

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

Deep Sky Objects in Columba Constellation

The table below lists the 20 brightest deep sky objects in the Columba constellation. See also the complete list of 26 deep sky objects in the constellation of Columba. The list includes objects from the Messier, New General Catalogue (NGC) and Index Catalogue (IC).

Name Type Magnitude
NGC 1851 Globular Cluster 7.23 (V)
NGC 1808 Galaxy 9.94 (V)
NGC 1792 Galaxy 10.18 (V)
NGC 2090 Galaxy 11.2 (V)
NGC 2188 Galaxy 11.82 (V)
NGC 1800 Galaxy 12.7 (V)
IC 2158 Galaxy 12.9 (B)
NGC 1879 Galaxy 13.14 (B)
NGC 1827 Galaxy 13.26 (B)
IC 2135 Galaxy 13.27 (B)
IC 2150 Galaxy 13.6 (B)
IC 2147 Galaxy 13.61 (B)
NGC 1812 Galaxy 13.64 (B)
NGC 2049 Galaxy 13.67 (B)
IC 2122 Galaxy 13.83 (B)
NGC 1989 Galaxy 14.13 (B)
IC 2153 NED01 Galaxy 14.16 (B)
NGC 2255 Galaxy 14.16 (B)
NGC 1811 Galaxy 14.46 (B)
IC 2153 NED02 Galaxy 14.67 (B)
...go to the complete list of 26 deep sky objects in the constellation of Columba