Constellations · Constellation · Delphini · Del
Constellation
Delphinus
The dolphin who persuaded the sea-nymph Amphitrite to marry Poseidon. Small, bright and very dolphin-like — and two of its stars carry a secret joke.
- Genitive
- Delphini
- Area
- 189 square degrees · 69th of 88
- Brightest star
- Rotanev · magnitude 3.64
- Naked-eye stars
- 43 brighter than magnitude 6.5
- Highest at midnight
- late July
History
In an 1814 Palermo star catalogue, two stars were named Sualocin and Rotanev. Read them backwards: Nicolaus Venator, the Latin name of the observatory’s assistant, Niccolò Cacciatore.
Look for
Its diamond of four stars is Job’s Coffin.