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Stars and Sticks| Abbreviation | Del |
|---|---|
| Meaning | Dolphin |
| Pronunciation Guide is based on “Pronouncing Astronomical Names,” published in 1943 by the American Astronomical Society. | del-FYE-nuss |
| Genitive The genitive is the Latin possessive form used in star names. For example, Alpha Orionis means “the Alpha of Orion.” | del-FYE-nye |
| Best Month | September |
| Visibility | Global |
| 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 | Easy |
| Description | The tiny but charming Dolphin is one of the most distinctive constellations — its compact diamond of four stars with a fifth trailing below looks remarkably like a leaping dolphin even in a light-polluted sky. In myth the dolphin was sent by Poseidon to locate the sea nymph Amphitrite who had fled to escape his advances; it delivered his heartfelt proposal and convinced her to accept — earning a place among the stars. Its two brightest stars, Sualocin and Rotanev, are the Latinized backwards spelling of 'Nicolaus Venator' — the assistant of astronomer Giuseppe Piazzi who sneaked his own name into the star catalog, one of astronomy's great practical jokes. |
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Images: NOIRLab/NSF/AURA/E. Slawik · IAU and Sky & Telescope · Stellarium — Full credits →
