At present, there are no explanations as to how such a huge area of space could be empty, but some investigators are inclining to the controversial idea that the area represents a type of quantum entanglement between our Universe and another, neighboring universe. Eridanus is called Srotaswini in Sanskrit, srtas meaning the course of a river or stream. Remember the brightest of these are two elliptical galaxies 1399 and 1404. Cursa (Beta Eridani), the constellations second most luminous star, is a blue-white giant situated 89 light years from our solar system with an apparent magnitude of 2.796, although being a variable star this can vary from between 2.72 and 2.80. River Po in Italy. It is about 36 times larger than the Sun, and has a visual magnitude of 2.91 as seen from Earth. This constellation is bordered by the constellations of Caelum, Cetus, Fornax, Horologium, Hydrus, Lepus, Phoenix,Taurus, and Tucana. How to choose your telescope magnification? Eridanus is located in the first quadrant of the Southern hemisphere (SQ1) and can be seen at latitudes between +32? At magnitude 10, this big, inclined spiral beauty is part of the Eridanus Super Group. The other two weak showers includes the Nu Eridanids which runs from August 30th to September 12th; and the Omicron Eridanids which occurs between November 1st to 10th when less than one meteor per hour may be observed. To know how far back we are looking, take the distance and remove the word "Light", and you will get an idea of how long ago they looked like that. The constellation's name can be shortened or abbreviated to Eri. This treatise, known as the Almagest, would be used by medieval European and Islamic scholars for over a thousand years to come, effectively becoming astrological and astronomical canon until the early Modern Age. Eridanus is located in the first quadrant of the southern hemisphere (SQ1) and can be seen at latitudes between +32 o and -90 o. This includes the bright elliptical galaxy NGC 1395; as well as the giant elliptical galaxy NGC 1407, and the spiral galaxy NGC 1332, both of which are surrounded by smaller sub-groups within the Eridanus Group. Its one planet, with an approximate mass of one Jupiter mass, has a period of 7 years. For some time, the constellation of Eridanus wasnt associated with any meteor showers. If youd like to tour some variable stars in Eridanus with your binoculars, have a look at Gamma, Delta, Lambda and Nu Eridani. Right Ascension: 3.25h Declination: -29o Visible: between +32o and -90o Zaurak is an evolved red giant currently on the asymptotic giant branch of the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram. Its brightest star is Achernar, the ninth brightest star in the sky, with a magnitude of 0.5. It is a super metal-rich star, showing a significant overabundance of iron. In spite of its large size, Eridanus only contains a few bright stars. In simple terms, the area is thought by some to be a point of contact between different universes, and despite the best efforts of dozens of investigators, no amount of computer modelling has ever been able to explain the void in terms of any of the current, accepted theoretical models of the origin of the universe. What doesnt show to the telescope is a thin, unresolved dust lane which crosses the diffuse light distribution about 0.3 northeast of the central peak from south-east to north-west, along the orientation of the galaxys major axis. Eridanus, constellation in the southern sky at about 4 hours right ascension and that stretches from the celestial equator to about 60 south in declination. The boundary of the Eridanus constellation contains 26 stars that host known exoplanets. [8], The Nu Eridanids, a recently discovered meteor shower, radiate from the constellation between August 30 and September 12 every year; the shower's parent body is an unidentified Oort cloud object. The nearest one is the Witch Head Nebula (IC 2118), a faint reflection nebula illuminated by Rigel, located in the region between Rigel and Cursa, in the neighbouring constellation Eridanus. It sits in 3.25-hour right ascension and -29o declination. Other notable stars include Epsilon Eridani, which is one of the closest stars to Earth known to have a planetary system, and 40 Eridani, a trinary star system which, in the Star Trek universe, is presented as the home of the Vulcans. This hot blue star (B6 Vep) is about eight times as massive as our sun, but it is a spectacular 1,350 times more luminous. Eridanus constellation is located in the Southern Sky or the southern celestial hemisphere. The orange main-sequence star is the primary of magnitude 4.4, and the white secondary of magnitude 9.5 is the most easily visible white dwarf. 40 Eridani B is a white dwarf star that has only 57% of our Suns mass, 1.4% of its radius, however, it is around three times hotter, with temperatures of around 16,500 K. 40 Eridani C is a red dwarf star that has only 20% of our Suns mass, 31% of its radius, and it is also cooler, with surface average temperatures at only 3,100 K. p Eridani is also a binary star system, located at around 25.5 light-years away from us. Eridanus's pronunciation is Iri-dan-us. Achernar, Eridanus's brightest star, marks the end of a great stream of stars. Covering only 125 square degrees, it ranks 81st of the 88 modern constellations in size. For the southern hemisphere, constellations appear rotated 180 degrees (upside-down and left-right reversed) from what is shown. We detail facts about stars and deep space objects (e.g. Your email address will only be used for EarthSky content. [10], Eridanus is depicted in ancient sky charts as a flowing river, starting from Orion and flowing in a meandering fashion past Cetus and Fornax and into the southern hemispheric stars. In English language this constellation is also known as "The River" while in astronomical texts and literature this . The southern stars cannot be fully seen in China, and were not incorporated until the late 16th/early 17th century by astronomer Xu Guangqi, which introduced these and other southern asterisms based European star charts. It is associated with the story of Phaethon in Greek mythology. By now, the object may look different. It is estimated to be a region quite devoid of galaxies, that stretches between 500 million to 1 billion light-years, and between 6 to 10 billion light-years away. These include a reflection nebula called the Witch Head Nebula and group of over 200 galaxies known as the Eridanus group. The brightest among them is Achenar, a bright, blue B-type star located about 144 light-years from Earth. This causes Achernar to have an equatorial diameter which is 56% greater than its polar diameter, a situation similar to the star Regulus. Trivia What Are the Major Stars in the Constellation of Eridanus? Cursa has an apparent magnitude of 2.796, being 25 times brighter than our Sun. At a diameter of about one billion light years it is the second largest known void, superseded only by the Giant Void in Canes Venatici. Phaeton mounted the chariot and the horses, sensing that the driver was lighter, flew upwards into the sky, leaving the familiar track behind. Some believe that the void may be due to quantum entanglement between our universe and another. NGC 1187 is a spiral galaxy located 60 million light-years away of magnitude 11.4. Eridanus is the 6th largest . declination of almost 60S. Eridanus is located near the constellations Fornax and Lepus. Eridanus is located in the first quadrant of the southern hemisphere (SQ1) and can be seen at latitudes between +32o and -90o. Here is What Are The Constellations?,What Is The Zodiac?, and Zodiac Signs And Their Dates. This galaxy is part of the Eridanus Group of galaxies. Beta Eridani, traditionally called Cursa, is a blue-white star of magnitude 2.8, 89 light-years from Earth. She has won a galaxy of awards from the broadcasting and science communities, including having an asteroid named 3505 Byrd in her honor. It is near the celestial equator. This pair will greatly resemble a faded version of the Gemini twins Castor and Pollux in the field of view. Eridanus belongs to the Heavenly Waters family of constellations, together with Carina, Columba, Delphinus, Equuleus, Piscis Austrinus, Puppis, Pyxis, and Vela. Similarly, in classical Sanskrit, the constellation was known as Srotaswini, which roughly translates into stream, current, or even torrent.. Around 200 galaxies are associated with this group, 70% of which are spiral and irregular type galaxies while the remaining 30% are elliptical and lenticular types of galaxies. Pronunciation: ih-RID-un-us Meaning: Dragon) or exist in the real world (e.g. Located about 70 million light-years away, NGC 1232 is dominated by millions of bright stars and dark dust, in spiral arms rotating about the center. Its celestial river flows from the feet of Orion and winds across the sky, branching out in different directions. Hover the pointer over the name of an object to highlight its position on the starchart to the right, EarthSky 2022 lunar calendars now available! But, if you lose track? The star is also more than twice as hot with temperatures at around 15,000 K. Cursa, designated as Beta Eridani, is the second-brightest star in Eridanus, located at around 89.1 light-years away from us, near the border with Orion. Facts Rana is the traditional/proper name for the star, whilst Delta Eridani is the Bayer classification for the star. Our privacy policy is Zeus intervened and killed Phaethon with a thunderbolt. Its brightest star, Ready for a nice telescope challenge? The stars of the modern constellation Fornax were formerly a part of Eridanus.[1]. The stars of the modern constellation of Fornax were formally part of Eridanus. box below and click the search button: Home Page | Explore the The Sea | Explore the The Sky, Space News | Astronomy Resources | Astronomy Events Calendar Since he lacked experience, the reins slipped from his hands, and the chariot plunged close to the Earth, and the lands caught fire. [1], Epsilon Eridani (the proper name is Ran[2]) is a star with one extrasolar planet similar to Jupiter. Achernar is also the least spherical star to be observed in our galaxy, which is a consequence of its very rapid rotation. Some say that this was how Libya became a desert, Ethiopians got dark skin, and the seas dried up. Remember that seasons are reversed too - summer in northern latitudes is winter in southern latitudes. Its place to the south of Orion's foot gives it its name, which means "the footstool". The primary star, Achernar, is the least spherical star in the Milky Way, this is because it spins very fast, having a rotational velocity of around 250 km / 155.3 mi per second. These superclusters contain hundreds of very young stars, some as young as 70 million years including stars such as Sirius itself, Beta Aurigae, Alpha Coronae Borealis, Zeta Crateris, and Beta Serpentis. It is also the ninth brightest star in the sky. The Eridanus Cloud, also known as the Eridanus Group, is a nearby loose grouping of galaxies at a mean distance of around 75 million light-years. It's as far as you can from the brightest star in a single constellation. Eridanus is usually depicted as a river flowing from the waters poured by Aquarius. Next up is Beta Eridani (aka. The dimmest star that a person can see on a clear night with their naked eye is 6.0 magnitude based on the table in the reference. The constellation Eridanus, the river, is located in the southern hemisphere of the sky. The caveat of these stars is that they are catalogued on this site. The constellation was supposed to be the path Phaethon drove along; in later times, it was considered a path of souls. There are galaxies everywhere! Features Caelum is bordered by Dorado and Pictor to the south, Horologium and Eridanus to the east, Lepus to the north, and Columba to the west. Ptolemy) compiled a list of the then-known 48 constellations. Johann Bayer's Uranometria depicts the river constellation as a flowing river. [1] "Being an EarthSky editor is like hosting a big global party for cool nature-lovers," she says. NGC 1232 and its satellite galaxy (NGC 1232A) are part of the Eridanus cluster of galaxies, along with NGC 1300. The constellation takes its name from the Greek name for the river Po in Italy and is represented by a celestial river. Before joining Britannica in 2007, he worked at the University of Chicago Press on the Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. Eridanus is a long constellation which snakes its way from the feet of Orion, close to the celestial equator, all the way down to Tucana at a declination of almost 60S. Eridanus is one of the 48 constellations first identified by the Greek astronomer Ptolemy in the second century. Eridanus also contains a number of galaxies, including NGC 1300, a barred spiral galaxy that is one of the best examples of this type of galaxy seen face-on. Eridanus may have been the path the chariot took, twisting and turning wildly as the boy sought to control the wild horses to no avail. A name is preferred even if it's a random made up one by yourself. The stars that correspond to Eridanus are also depicted as a river in Indian astronomy starting close to the head of Orion just below Auriga. Theta Eridani, called Acamar, is a binary star with blue-white components, distinguishable in small amateur telescopes and 161 light-years from Earth. It's part of the Heavenly Waters constellation family. Only because its beautiful. By Greek and Roman times, the constellation referred to the river Po (Eridanos in Greek), Italys longest river which runs 405 miles (652 km) from northwestern Italy to the Adriatic Sea on the east. The Ecliptic is the path that the Earth takes around the Sun. Phaethon was the son of Helios, the god of the sun. Longitude: Its brightest star is Achernar, the ninth brightest star in the sky, with a magnitude of 0.5. Eridanus is best observed during the months of December and January. Helios, being stricken with grief, did not drive his chariot for days, leaving the world in darkness. 32 Eridani is visible in small amateur telescopes. Facts Cursa is the traditional/proper name for the star, whilst Beta Eridani is the Bayer classification for the star. 4" (100mm) telescope = 12.5 Constellations are not equally sized. It was discovered in 1886 by astronomer Francis Preserved Leavenworth. Main stars refer to the stars that make up the constellation outline. Be sure to check out The Messier Catalog while youre at it! And the International Astronomical Union included it on its list of 88 official modern constellations. Now try NGC 1332 (RA 3:26.3 Dec -21:20). A little neutral hydrogen for the soul. The star has a visual companion and (like Achernar) is a fast spinner, resulting in an oblate spheroid shape. This is the constellation Eridanus the River, and Achernar is its brightest star. Zaurak (Gamma Eridani) is a giant star located in the constellation of Eridanus, River Eridanus.It is not part of the Eridanus constellation outline but is within the borders of the constellation. NGC 1427A is similar to the Large Magellanic Cloud, being 20,000 light-years across. The primary is a yellow-hued star of magnitude 4.8 and the secondary is a blue-green star of magnitude 6.1. The Cetus was a sea monster in Greek mythology which both Perseus and Heracles needed to slay. Eridanus is one of the 48 constellations first identified by the Greek astronomer Ptolemy in the second century. James Miller The Nu Eridanids radiate from the constellation between August 30 and September 12 every year, while the showers parental body remains an unidentified Oort Cloud object. The primary star has around 177% of our Suns mass, 1,200% of its radius, however, it is cooler, with surface temperatures recorded at only 4,641 K. 39 Eridani B is 1.3 times brighter than our Sun, having an apparent magnitude of 8.68. Observing these objects provides astronomers with valuable information on topics like exoplanet atmospheres and large-scale cosmic structures. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. All of these are variable stars, including a few Cepheids, but their changes are very slight, only about half a magnitude. ** Circumpolar constellations are visible year-round in the hemisphere listed (and not at all in the opposite hemisphere). Its the one that extends farthest in the sky from north to south. Galaxies) found within the boundary as well as a map and when it can be viewed. 5 Bizarre Paradoxes Of Time Travel Explained, 10 Interesting Nikola Tesla Facts And Quotes, James Webb Telescope Turns Its Attention To The Kuiper Belt. or click to see more information. The stars mentioned are from the Hipparcos catalogue or have been added because of their special status. Within this group are a spiral galaxy called NGC 1187, a barred spiral galaxy known as NGC 1300, and a beautiful face-on spiral galaxy called NGC 1232. It is a Super-Earth type of planet, being one of the closest to us, and it lies in the stars habitable zone. Eridanus is never completely visible in the Northern hemisphere, in London at least. The cause of supervoids cannot be explained, but it has been speculated that this void may be the result of quantum entanglement between our Universe and another. Blue and red supergiant stars, star clusters, and star-forming regions are well resolved across the spiral arms, and dust lanes trace out fine structures in the disk and bar. The ancient Greeks identified Eridanus with rivers from both geography (e.g., the Nile and the Po) and mythology (the stream that flowed around the world). But if you live at a very southerly latitude in the Northern Hemisphere, you can see a special sight: the bright star that represents the end of the River. Brightest among these is the elliptical Dwarf satellite galaxies that orbit the Milky Way Galaxy located in the constellation Eridanus. The most distant figure is derived from the 1997 or 2007 Hipparcos star catalogue parallax figure and has been known to produce wrong distances. The Eridanus Constellation Welcome to another edition of Constellation Friday! NGC 1309 has an apparent magnitude of 12.0. Based on the star's spectral type (K0 IV), Rana's colour is orange to red . Additionally, we look at the Eridanus mythology. Ford 20112023. It is one of the 48 constellations described by Ptolemy in the second century. nus i-ri-d-ns astronomy : a southern constellation that is visible stretching between the constellations of Orion and Phoenix and that is represented by the figure of a river How can you tell whether a galaxy is turned on or not? Something went wrong while submitting the form. the Eridanus Cloud), a group of about 200 galaxies located roughly 75 million light years from Earth. It is the sixth largest modern constellation, but despite its size Phaeton wished to drive his fathers chariot across the heavens and kept begging for his permission to do so. Specifically, it lies in the first quadrant (SQ1). This star is 6.1 billion years old, and it is about to join the red giant branch. It is located at around 10.4 light-years away from the Solar System. Eridanus is one of the 48 constellations identified by the ancient Greek astronomer Ptolemy in the 2nd century. If this 11th magnitude grand design spiral galaxy doesnt smack your eye, nothing will. The mythology of Eridanus ties it to Phaethon. Bright blue areas of star formation can be observed in its spiral arms. In Chinese astronomy, the northern part is located within the White Tiger of the West (, X Fng Bi H). One of these is the southern constellation of Eridanus, the sixth largest modern constellation in the night sky. list of 88 official modern constellations. Achernar (Alpha Eridani), located about 139 light years away, is the most luminous star in the constellation, and the ninth most luminous in the entire sky with a visual magnitude of 0.445. Perhaps Zeus intervened by sending a thunderbolt to stop him. 16" (400m) telescope = 16 It is unknown if this galaxy has an active nucleus. The constellation is home to the Eridanus Supervoid, a massive empty space in the universe discovered through studies of the cosmic microwave background radiation. It fully disappears from May until September, when it slowly begins to appear on the horizon led by its Alpha star, Achernar. 39 Eridani is a binary star also divisible in small amateur telescopes, 206 light-years from Earth. This ancient constellation continues to be one of the 88 modern constellations recognized by the International Astronomical Union (IAU). Often referred to as Cleopatras Eye this 10th magnitude planetary nebula is sufficiently bright and large enough to be handled by small optics and shows a pleasing amount of detail. Eridanus, constellation in the southern sky at about 4 hours right ascension and that stretches from the celestial equator to about 60 south in declination. At its southern end is the magnitude 0.5 star Achernar, designated Alpha Eridani. A constellation is a pattern of stars in an identifiable shape that is supposed to resemble an object, animal or person. First conflated with the Nile River in Egypt, the constellation was also identified with the Po River in Italy. here. Eridanus stretches out for over 1138 square degrees. Cursa is located in the constellation Eridanus.Representing the celestial River, Eridanus is one of the Greek constellations, first catalogued by Claudius Ptolemy in the 2nd century CE.It is traditionally depicted as a river flowing from Orion all the way to the far southern sky, where the bright Achernar (Alpha Eridani) marks its end. A science communicator and educator since 1976, Byrd believes in science as a force for good in the world and a vital tool for the 21st century.
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