Ara, the Altar (Ara)

(AIR-uh)

The Southern constellation of Ara, the Altar, is best viewed in Summer during the month of July. It's brightest star is Beta Arae at magnitude 2.80. The boundary of the Ara constellation contains 7 stars that host known exoplanets.

Red hypergiant Westerlund 1-26 is the 3th largest known star in the universe at 1,500 times the size of the Sun.

1. Pronunciation:
2. AIR-uh

1. Meaning:
2. Altar

1. Genitive:
2. Arae

1. Abbreviation:
2. Ara

1. Constellation Family:
2. Hercules

1. Hemisphere:
2. Southern

1. Quadrant:
2. SQ3

1. Best viewing month*:
2. July

1. Right Ascension (avg):
2. 17h 14m

1. Declination (avg):
2. -51° 7'

1. Brightest star:
2. Beta Arae (2.80)

1. Stars with planets:
2. 7

1. X-ray stars:
2. 4 stars

1. Gamma-ray stars:
2. 1 stars

1. Caldwell catalog objects:
2. C81 | C82 | C86 |

Brightest Stars in Ara

The 10 brightest stars in the constellation Ara by magnitude.

1. Star
2. Magnitude
3. Spectral class

1. Beta Arae (β Ara)
2. 2.84
3. K3Ib-II

1. Alpha Arae (α Ara)
2. 2.84
3. B2Vne

1. Zeta Arae (ζ Ara)
2. 3.12
3. K5III

1. Gamma Arae (γ Ara)
2. 3.31
3. B1Ib

1. Delta Arae (δ Ara)
2. 3.6
3. B8V

1. Theta Arae (θ Ara)
2. 3.65
3. B2Ib

1. Eta Arae (η Ara)
2. 3.77
3. K5III

1. Epsilon Arae (ε¹ Ara)
2. 4.06
3. K4III

1. Sigma Arae (σ Ara)
2. 4.56
3. A0V

1. Lambda Arae (λ Ara)
2. 4.76
3. F3IV

Star Clusters in Ara

The most notable and easy-to-find star clusters in the constellation Ara . Also see all star clusters.

1. Star cluster
2. Catalog #
3. Cluster type

1. IC 4651
3. open

1. NGC 6200
3. open

1. NGC 6204
3. open

1. NGC 6352
3. globular

1. NGC 6362
3. globular

1. NGC 6397
3. globular

Nebulae in Ara

Notable and easy-to-find nebulae in the constellation Ara . Also see all nebulae.

1. Nebula name
2. Catalog #
3. Nebula type

1. Cotton Candy Nebula
3. protoplanetary

1. Stingray Nebula
3. planetary

1. Water lily nebula
3. protoplanetary

Black Holes in Ara

These are the most well-known smaller (non-supermassive) black holes in the constellation Ara. Although black holes cannot be seen directly, the smaller ones are at the center of some star clusters and supernova remnant nebulae, which can be seen. Supermassive black holes are at the center of most galaxies, such as Sagittarius A* at the center of our Milky Way galaxy. Also see all black holes.

1. Black hole
3. Type

1. V821 Ara
3. stellar

1. XTE J1650-500
3. stellar

Exoplanets in Ara

These are the most notable named exoplanet systems known in the constellation Ara. Bear in mind that we will likely discover billions of exoplanets in the years to come. Also see all exoplanets.

1. Host star name
3. Exoplanet name

1. Cervantes
3. Dulcinea

1. Cervantes
3. Quijote

1. Cervantes
3. Rocinante

1. Cervantes
3. Sancho

1. Inquill
3. Sumajmajta

* For southern latitudes, flip the season listed. For example, if a constellation is listed as best viewed in the summer in the month of July, in the southern hemisphere the constellation would be best viewed in the winter in January and would be upside-down.

** Circumpolar constellations are visible year-round in the hemisphere listed (and not at all in the opposite).