Dorado constellation
Dorado is one of the 88 constellations, and it represents the dolphinfish. It is highest in the sky at midnight around December 8, and its whole figure rises above the horizon from 24°N to 90°S.
Dorado at a glance
- Represents
- the dolphinfish
- Highest at midnight
- December 8
- Highest at 9 pm
- January 21
- Seen whole from
- 24°N to 90°S
- Stars in the figure
- 5 stars
- Origin
- Dutch navigators, 1590s
When to see Dorado
Dorado is highest in the sky at midnight around December 8 and at 9 pm around January 21. Each month it is highest about two hours earlier than the month before.
The times are local solar time. Clocks on daylight saving time read about one hour later.
| Date | Highest at |
|---|---|
| January 15 | 9:30 p.m. |
| February 15 | 7:20 p.m. |
| March 15 | 5:30 p.m. |
| April 15 | 3:30 p.m. |
| May 15 | 1:30 p.m. |
| June 15 | 11:30 a.m. |
| July 15 | 9:30 a.m. |
| August 15 | 7:30 a.m. |
| September 15 | 5:30 a.m. |
| October 15 | 3:30 a.m. |
| November 15 | 1:30 a.m. |
| December 15 | 11:30 p.m. |
Where to look for Dorado
From the northern hemisphere
From 40°N, Dorado never rises. You need to be south of 39°N to see any of it.
From the southern hemisphere
From 35°S, Dorado rises in the east and sets in the west. It is highest around midnight on December 8, 65° above the southern horizon.
Brightest stars in Dorado
None of the stars of Dorado is brighter than magnitude 2.3, so it is best seen from a dark place away from city lights. Its brightest stick-figure stars are about magnitude 3.
Dorado in myth and history
Dorado was added in the 1590s from the southern stars that the Dutch navigators Pieter Dirkszoon Keyser and Frederick de Houtman recorded.
Constellations next to Dorado
Find Dorado in your sky
Questions about Dorado
Dorado is highest in the sky at midnight around December 8 and at 9 pm around January 21. The weeks around those dates are the best time to look.
The whole figure of Dorado rises above the horizon from 24°N to 90°S, and at least part of it rises from 39°N to 90°S.
Dorado represents the dolphinfish. Dorado was added in the 1590s from the southern stars that the Dutch navigators Pieter Dirkszoon Keyser and Frederick de Houtman recorded.