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A Complete Guide to the Solar System and the Night Sky
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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 » 

Dorado (The Dolphinfish) Constellation

Altitude: -59.7°   Azimuth: 132.1°   Direction: South-East

Dorado (pronounced dəˈrɑːdoʊ) is the Latin name of a large constellation (in fact it extends itself for about 31 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 Dolphinfish" while in astronomical texts and literature this constellation is often abbreviated as "Dor" (according to the standard of the International Astronomical Union - IAU) or as "Dora" (according to a naming convention used by NASA).

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

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

Sky Chart of Dorado Constellation

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

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

Dorado 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 Dorado actually is) these times can have little relevance.

Bright Stars in Dorado Constellation

The table below lists the top 20 brightest stars in the Dorado constellation. See also the complete list of 33 stars brighter than magnitude 6.5 (approximate) in the constellation of Dorado. Click on each star to see more details about it.

HR Number(*) Star designation Proper name Visual magnitude Color Notes
HR1465 α Doradus 3.27 Variable; Multiple;
HR1922 β Doradus 3.76 Variable;
HR1338 γ Doradus 4.25 Variable;
HR2015 δ Doradus 4.35
HR2102 4.65
HR1674 ζ Doradus 4.72
HR1744 θ Doradus 4.83
HR2245 η2 Doradus 5.01 Variable;
HR2221 ν Doradus 5.06
HR2064 ε Doradus 5.11 Variable;
HR1836 λ Doradus 5.14
HR1695 5.2 Variable;
HR1530 κ Doradus 5.27 Variable;
HR1917 5.34
HR2377 π2 Doradus 5.38
HR1492 5.4 Variable; Multiple;
HR2352 π1 Doradus 5.56
HR2194 η1 Doradus 5.71
HR1859 6.03 Double;
HR1365 6.09 Double;
...go to the complete list of 33 bright stars in the constellation of Dorado

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

Deep Sky Objects in Dorado Constellation

The table below lists the 20 brightest deep sky objects in the Dorado constellation. See also the complete list of 338 deep sky objects in the constellation of Dorado. The list includes objects from the Messier, New General Catalogue (NGC) and Index Catalogue (IC).

Name Type Magnitude
ESO056-115 (Large Magellanic Cloud) Galaxy 0.4 (V)
NGC 2070 (Tarantula Nebula) HII Ionized region 7.25 (V)
NGC 1968 Association of Stars 8.22 (V)
NGC 2055 Association of Stars 8.39 (V)
NGC 2074 Star Cluster + Nebula 8.5 (B)
NGC 1955 HII Ionized region 8.87 (V)
NGC 1850 Globular Cluster 8.96 (V)
NGC 2014 Nebula 8.97 (V)
NGC 2050 Association of Stars 9.25 (V)
NGC 1747 Open Cluster 9.37 (V)
NGC 1553 Galaxy 9.4 (V)
NGC 1763 Star Cluster + Nebula 9.4 (V)
NGC 2042 Open Cluster 9.58 (V)
NGC 2060 Supernova Remnant 9.59 (V)
NGC 2100 Globular Cluster 9.6 (B)
NGC 2004 Globular Cluster 9.6 (B)
NGC 1910 HII Ionized region 9.65 (V)
NGC 1672 Galaxy 9.68 (V)
NGC 1818 Globular Cluster 9.7 (B)
NGC 1566 Galaxy 9.73 (V)
...go to the complete list of 338 deep sky objects in the constellation of Dorado