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Vulpecula, The Fox, is one of Johannes Hevelius' constellations,
introduced in his posthumously published star catalogue of 1690. (See
"Lacerta" for comments on Hevelius.) The asterism
resembles more a flying gull seen face on.
The constellation was originally called Vulpecula cum Anser, The Fox
and Goose. This is a rather faint constellation, with most stars of the
fourth and fifth magnitude. There is only one Bayer
star.
Vulpecula has several objects of interest: a fine binary, a couple of
variables, and even a Messier object.
Double stars:
-
Alpha Vulpeculae may be only optical (observers differ on this
point).
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AB: 4.6, 6.0; PA 28º, separation 13.7".
-
16 Vulpeculae is a close binary with nearly equal components:
5.9, 6.3; PA 115º, separation 0.8".
Struve 2525 is a fine binary with orbit of 990 years; the 2000 values are: 8.5, 8.7; PA 291º, 2.1". The binary lies between beta Cygni and 3 Vulpeculae.
Variable stars:
-
R Vulpeculae is a Mira type variable with range of 7.4 to 13.7
every 137 days.
T Vulpeculae is a cepheid: 5.4 to 6.1 every 4.43 days.
Deep Sky Objects:
-
M27 (NGC 6853), "The Dumbbell Nebula" is a noted planetary
nebula, large, bright, and oddly shaped (thus its name). It glows with a
faintly green colour.
-
The nebula is found midway between 12 Vul and 17 Vul and about half a
degree to the south. (14 Vul is in the same field, just to the NNW).
-
NGC 6940 is an open cluster of about a hundred stars, found just
midway between 23 Vul and 32 Vul, and a half degree to the north.
For more on Vulpecula visit the Binocular Section.
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© Richard Dibon-Smith.
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