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Stars and Sticks| Abbreviation | Ara |
|---|---|
| Meaning | Altar |
| Pronunciation Guide is based on “Pronouncing Astronomical Names,” published in 1943 by the American Astronomical Society. | AIR-uh |
| Genitive The genitive is the Latin possessive form used in star names. For example, Alpha Orionis means “the Alpha of Orion.” | AIR-ee |
| Best Month | July |
| Visibility | Southern |
| Origin | AncientThese figures are rooted in the classical Greek and Mesopotamian traditions cataloged by Ptolemy in the 2nd century AD. |
| Author | PtolemyPtolemy, a 2nd-century Greco-Egyptian astronomer, cataloged the 48 classical constellations in his landmark work, the Almagest. These form the core of the 88 modern constellations recognized today. |
| Type | constellation |
| Difficulty | Challenging |
| Description | This ancient altar sits in one of the richest regions of the Milky Way, near the tail of Scorpius. In Greek mythology it represents the altar upon which the Olympian gods first swore their solemn oath of alliance before going to war against the Titans — the defining moment when the new gods pledged unity against the old order. Some traditions identify it as the altar of Chiron, or the altar upon which Lycaon offered a human sacrifice that so enraged Zeus he transformed him into a wolf. The constellation lies within a brilliant section of the Milky Way, rich in star clusters and deep-sky objects. |
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Images: NOIRLab/NSF/AURA/E. Slawik · IAU and Sky & Telescope · Stellarium — Full credits →