Vela constellation
Vela is one of the 88 constellations, and it represents the sails of a ship. It is highest in the sky at midnight around 13 February, and its whole figure rises above the horizon from 35°N to 90°S.
Vela at a glance
- Represents
- the sails of a ship
- Highest at midnight
- 13 February
- Highest at 9 pm
- 30 March
- Seen whole from
- 35°N to 90°S
- Brightest star
- Alsephina
- Stars in the figure
- 10 stars
- Origin
- Part of Argo Navis until the 1750s
When to see Vela
Vela is highest in the sky at midnight around 13 February and at 9 pm around 30 March. Each month it is highest about two hours earlier than the month before.
The times are local solar time. Clocks on summer time or daylight saving time read about one hour later.
| Date | Highest at |
|---|---|
| 15 January | 1:50 am |
| 15 February | 11:50 pm |
| 15 March | 10:00 pm |
| 15 April | 8:00 pm |
| 15 May | 6:00 pm |
| 15 June | 4:00 pm |
| 15 July | 2:00 pm |
| 15 August | 12:00 pm |
| 15 September | 10:00 am |
| 15 October | 8:00 am |
| 15 November | 6:00 am |
| 15 December | 4:00 am |
Where to look for Vela
From the northern hemisphere
From 40°N, only part of Vela rises. Its centre is highest around midnight on 13 February, 0° above the southern horizon.
From the southern hemisphere
From 35°S, Vela rises in the east and sets in the west. It is highest around midnight on 13 February, 75° above the southern horizon.
Brightest stars in Vela
Vela in myth and history
Vela was part of Argo Navis, the ship of Jason and the Argonauts in Ptolemy's list. Nicolas-Louis de Lacaille split the ship into Carina, Puppis and Vela in the 1750s.
Constellations next to Vela
Find Vela in your sky
Questions about Vela
Vela is highest in the sky at midnight around 13 February and at 9 pm around 30 March. The weeks around those dates are the best time to look.
The whole figure of Vela rises above the horizon from 35°N to 90°S, and at least part of it rises from 49°N to 90°S.
Alsephina is the brightest star in Vela, at magnitude 1.93.
Vela represents the sails of a ship. Vela was part of Argo Navis, the ship of Jason and the Argonauts in Ptolemy's list. Nicolas-Louis de Lacaille split the ship into Carina, Puppis and Vela in the 1750s.