Volans constellation
Volans is one of the 88 constellations, and it represents the flying fish. It is highest in the sky at midnight around January 21, and its whole figure rises above the horizon from 17°N to 90°S.
Volans at a glance
- Represents
- the flying fish
- Highest at midnight
- January 21
- Highest at 9 pm
- March 6
- Seen whole from
- 17°N to 90°S
- Stars in the figure
- 6 stars
- Origin
- Dutch navigators, 1590s
When to see Volans
Volans is highest in the sky at midnight around January 21 and at 9 pm around March 6. 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 | 12:20 AM |
| February 15 | 10:20 PM |
| March 15 | 8:30 PM |
| April 15 | 6:20 PM |
| May 15 | 4:30 PM |
| June 15 | 2:20 PM |
| July 15 | 12:30 PM |
| August 15 | 10:20 AM |
| September 15 | 8:20 AM |
| October 15 | 6:20 AM |
| November 15 | 4:20 AM |
| December 15 | 2:20 AM |
Where to look for Volans
From the northern hemisphere
From 40°N, Volans never rises. You need to be south of 24°N to see any of it.
From the southern hemisphere
From 35°S, Volans never sets. It circles the pole and is highest around midnight on January 21, 56° above the southern horizon.
Brightest stars in Volans
None of the stars of Volans 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.
Volans in myth and history
Volans was added in the 1590s from the southern stars that the Dutch navigators Pieter Dirkszoon Keyser and Frederick de Houtman recorded.
Constellations next to Volans
Find Volans in your sky
Questions about Volans
Volans is highest in the sky at midnight around January 21 and at 9 pm around March 6. The weeks around those dates are the best time to look.
The whole figure of Volans rises above the horizon from 17°N to 90°S, and at least part of it rises from 24°N to 90°S.
Volans represents the flying fish. Volans was added in the 1590s from the southern stars that the Dutch navigators Pieter Dirkszoon Keyser and Frederick de Houtman recorded.