Constellations / Ara

Ara

Arae

Southern 237 sq° Ara

Brightest star: Beta Arae

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Mythology

Represents the altar used by the gods of Olympus to swear an oath of allegiance before their battle against the Titans. It is one of the original 48 Ptolemaic constellations.

Observing Highlights

Contains several open and globular clusters including NGC 6193 and NGC 6397, one of the closest globular clusters to Earth. Best seen from southern latitudes in summer.

Main Stars

20

Beta Ara

HIP 85258; Beta Ara

2.85 mag K0/1Ib

Alpha Ara

HIP 85792; Alpha Ara

2.95 mag 48.7″ B: 11.1 B2Ve

Zeta Ara

HIP 83081; Zeta Ara

3.13 mag K3III

Gamma Ara

HIP 85267; Gamma Ara

3.34 mag 18.4″ B: 10.2 B1II

Delta Ara

HIP 85727; Delta Ara

3.62 mag 3.1″ B: 14.2 B7V

Theta Ara

HIP 88714; Theta Ara

3.66 mag B2 IB

Eta Ara

HIP 82363; Eta Ara

3.76 mag 23.4″ B: 13.5 K5III

Epsilon Ara

HIP 83153; Epsilon1 Ara

4.06 mag K4IIIab

Sigma Ara

HIP 86092; Sigma Ara; 1 Ara

4.59 mag A0V

HIP 86486; Lambda Ara

4.77 mag F3IV

Cervantes

Cervantes

HIP 86796; Mu Ara

5.15 mag G3IV-V

Kappa Ara

HIP 85312; Kappa Ara

5.23 mag 47.7″ B: 12.8 G8III

Iota Ara

HIP 85079; Iota Ara

5.25 mag 45.0″ B: 11.6 B2IIIne

Pi Ara

HIP 86305; Pi Ara

5.25 mag A5IV-V

Epsilon Ara

HIP 83431; Epsilon2 Ara

5.29 mag 46.1″ B: 13.8 F6V

HIP 85389

5.29 mag 2.1″ B: 6.5 B7V+B9.5V

HIP 84720

5.48 mag 10.6″ B: 8.9 G8-K0V

HIP 83057

5.55 mag B9IV

HIP 82171

5.58 mag B0.5Ia

HIP 81702

5.65 mag 1.7″ B: 8.4 O5III(f)

Double Stars

15

HIP 84720

5.48 mag 10.6″ B: 8.9 G8-K0V

HIP 85389

5.29 mag 2.1″ B: 6.5 B7V+B9.5V

Eta Ara

HIP 82363; Eta Ara

3.76 mag 23.4″ B: 13.5 K5III

HIP 82418

6.47 mag 3.2″ B: 7.3 A5III+F7III

HIP 84248

5.89 mag 39.1″ B: 8.8 K0-1III

HIP 81966

5.96 mag 28.1″ B: 12.0 G8III

HIP 84731

5.91 mag 27.3″ B: 13.0 K2IIICNIb-II

V539 Ara

HIP 87314

5.92 mag B2V+B3V

Gamma Ara

HIP 85267; Gamma Ara

3.34 mag 18.4″ B: 10.2 B1II

Alpha Ara

HIP 85792; Alpha Ara

2.95 mag 48.7″ B: 11.1 B2Ve

HIP 85788

6.03 mag 20.5″ B: 10.5 F8-G0Ib

HIP 88859

6.15 mag 4.3″ B: 9.6 B7-8II

HIP 85409

5.92 mag 75.5″ B: 10.9 B9II

HIP 85470

5.75 mag 31.2″ B: 13.0 K2III

Epsilon Ara

HIP 83431; Epsilon2 Ara

5.29 mag 46.1″ B: 13.8 F6V

Variable Stars

1

V539 Ara

HIP 87314

5.92 mag B2V+B3V

Deep Sky Objects

25

Open Cluster (7)

C82

NGC 6193

5.2 mag 15

NGC 6208

7.2 mag 16.

NGC 6250

5.9 mag 8.

NGC 6200

7.4 mag 12.

IC 4651

6.9 mag 12.

NGC 6204

8.2 mag 5.

NGC 6253

10.0 mag 5.

Globular Cluster (3)

C86

NGC 6397

5.7 mag 26

NGC 6362

8.3 mag 10.7

C81

NGC 6352

8.2 mag 7

Galaxy (9)

NGC 6300

11.0 mag 5.4 SBb

NGC 6221

11.0 mag 3.2 Sc

NGC 6215

12.0 mag 2.0 Sc

IC 4646

— mag 2.6 Sc

IC 4652

— mag 1.7 Sb

IC 4656

— mag 2.2 Sc

NGC 6328

— mag SABa

IC 4653

— mag 1.6 S0-a

NGC 6305

— mag E-S0

Planetary Nebula (2)

NGC 6326

12.0 mag 0.2

IC 4642

13.0 mag 0.4

Emission Nebula (1)

NGC 6188

— mag 20.

Unknown (3)

IC 4655

— mag

IC 4658

— mag

IC 1266

— mag