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Vela constellation

Vela is a constellation of the southern sky. Its brightest star is Regor. Visibility at mid-northern latitudes (52° N): not visible — too far south in the sky.

  • —not visible at 52° N
  • Regorbrightest star, magnitude 1.8
  • VelVela
Show on the sky map
The constellation Vela in the starry sky: its figure and its bright stars Regor, Vela — magnitude 1.8. Open on the sky mapRegorAlsephina, Vela — magnitude 1.9. Open on the sky mapAlsephinaSuhail, Vela — magnitude 2.2. Open on the sky mapSuhailMarkeb, Vela — magnitude 2.5. Open on the sky mapMarkebμ Velorum — magnitude 2.7. Open on the sky mapN Velorum — magnitude 3.2. Open on the sky mapφ Velorum — magnitude 3.5. Open on the sky mapο Velorum — magnitude 3.6. Open on the sky mapψ Velorum — magnitude 3.6. Open on the sky mapc Velorum — magnitude 3.8. Open on the sky mapb Velorum — magnitude 3.8. Open on the sky mapp Velorum — magnitude 3.8. Open on the sky mapq Velorum — magnitude 3.9. Open on the sky mapa Velorum — magnitude 3.9. Open on the sky mapd Velorum — magnitude 4.0. Open on the sky mape Velorum — magnitude 4.1. Open on the sky mapx Velorum — magnitude 4.3. Open on the sky mapM Velorum — magnitude 4.3. Open on the sky mapw Velorum — magnitude 4.5. Open on the sky mapJ Velorum — magnitude 4.5. Open on the sky mapm Velorum — magnitude 4.6. Open on the sky mapHIP 50555, Vela — magnitude 4.6. Open on the sky map N ↑← E
North is up, east is left — this is how the constellation looks in the sky. Click a star to open it on the sky map.

How to find the constellation Vela

The constellation Vela can’t be seen from mid-northern latitudes (52° N). At least part of it rises above the horizon south of 49° N.

LocationVisibility
40° NMadrid, New York, Beijingonly partly visible — its southern part never rises above the horizon
52° NLondon, Berlin, Warsawnot visible — too far south in the sky
60° NOslo, Helsinki, Saint Petersburgnot visible — too far south in the sky

Bright stars of the constellation

StarMagnitudeColorDistance
Regorγ² Velorum 1.8blue—
Alsephinaδ Velorum 1.9bluish white—
Suhailλ Velorum 2.2red—
Markebκ Velorum 2.5blue—
μ Velorum 2.7orange—
N Velorum 3.2orange—
φ Velorum 3.5bluish white—
ο Velorum 3.6blue—
ψ Velorum 3.6white—
c Velorum 3.8orange—
b Velorum 3.8yellow—
p Velorum 3.8white—

Magnitude is a measure of a star’s brightness: the smaller the number, the brighter the star; on a dark night the naked eye can see stars down to magnitude 6.

Questions

How do you find the constellation Vela in the sky?

The constellation Vela can’t be seen from mid-northern latitudes (52° N). At least part of it rises above the horizon south of 49° N.

When is the best time of year to observe the constellation Vela?

The constellation Vela can’t be seen from mid-northern latitudes (52° N) at any time of year. At least part of it rises above the horizon south of 49° N.

What is the brightest star in the constellation Vela?

Regor: magnitude 1.8, blue.

How many stars are there in the constellation Vela?

With the naked eye on a perfectly dark night — with no light pollution and no Moon — you can see about 125 stars in the constellation (brighter than magnitude 6, within the constellation’s boundaries). In a city far fewer: usually only the stars of its figure.

Spring constellations

Find it in the sky tonightA sky map over your city: where the constellation Vela is now and when it will rise.
Open the sky map