Carina is a southern circumpolar constellation. Click on image for full size (36K JPG) Windows Original

The constellation Carina is known as the Keel, which is the bottom part of old ships. Carina was originally a part of Argo Navis, which was a huge boat in the night sky. It has since been divided into four constellations: Carina, Puppis, Vela and Pyxis.

Many civilizations believed Carina was a ship. In classical myth, Argo Navis was the ship of Jason and the Argonauts, who sailed the seas in search of the Golden Fleece. Others say the ship belonged to Menelaus, husband of Helen of Troy. The ancient Egyptians say the ship belonged to Osiris and Isis.

The brightest star in Carina is called Canopus. It is actually the second brightest star in the sky behind Sirius. Canopus was the name of the pilot of Menelaus' fleet. It lies at the very end of the constellation.

The famous Keyhole Nebula is located just below the circle in the constellation. It is one of the most watched nebulae in the sky, and scientists say it contains the most visible star that will become a supernova.

It is hard to see any shape of a ship in the figure without the rest of Argo Navis. But if you recall the shape of the old wooden ships used during the age of discovery, you will notice that the constellation makes out a sort of "U-shape", characteristic of the bottom of ships. The circle may represent the ship's figurehead. Carina is a Southern Circumpolar constellation, so only a very few in the Northern Hemisphere can see it.

Carina is a southern circumpolar constellation. Click on image for full size (36K JPG) Windows Original

The constellation Carina is known as the Keel, which is the bottom part of old ships. Carina was originally a part of Argo Navis, which was a huge boat in the night sky. It has since been divided into four constellations: Carina, Puppis, Vela and Pyxis.

Many civilizations believed Carina was a ship. In classical myth, Argo Navis was the ship of Jason and the Argonauts, who sailed the seas in search of the Golden Fleece. Others say the ship belonged to Menelaus, husband of Helen of Troy. The ancient Egyptians say the ship belonged to Osiris and Isis.

The brightest star in Carina is called Canopus. It is actually the second brightest star in the sky behind Sirius. The famous Keyhole Nebula is located just below the circle in the constellation. It is one of the most watched nebulae in the sky, and scientists say it will become a supernova.

It is hard to see any shape of a ship in the figure without the rest of Argo Navis. But if you recall the shape of the old wooden ships used during the age of discovery, you will notice that the constellation makes out a sort of "U-shape", characteristic of the bottom of ships. The circle may represent the ship's figurehead. Carina is a Southern Circumpolar constellation, so only a very few in the Northern Hemisphere can see it.

Carina is a southern circumpolar constellation. Click on image for full size (36K JPG) Windows Original

The constellation Carina is known as the Keel. A keel is the wooden bottom of old sailing ships. Carina used to be a part of the large constellation called Argo Navis. It was divided up into four different constellations: Carina, Puppis, Vela and Pyxis.

Carina is a Southern Circumpolar constellation. So if you live in the southern hemisphere, you will see Carina all year round. But if you live in the Northern Hemisphere, you will probably never see it.

Can you see the shape of a ship in the image? Remember, Carina is only the bottom of the ship. Many years ago, sailing ships had a "U-shaped" bottom, like the constellation. The circle on one end is the figurehead. Old boats used to put pretty statues like Mermaids or serpents on the front of their ships!

The Keyhole Nebula is in this constellation. You can see what it looks like by clicking the link below! Also, the second brightest star in the night sky is in Carina. It is named Canopus.