The Little Fox
| Abbreviation: | Vul |
| Genitive: | Vulpeculae |
| Origin: | Johannes Hevelius, 1690 |
| Fully Visible: | 61°S – 90°N |
When German/Polish astronomer Johannes Hevelius (1611–1687) created this constellation in the late seventeenth century, he named it Vulpecula cum Ansere or the Little Fox and Goose. The goose has since been dropped from the name of the constellation.
Notable Features
| Visible Named Stars | ||
|---|---|---|
| α Vul | Anser | The name of this fourth-magnitude star, the brightest one in the constellation, is taken from the name of the obsolete constellation, Anser. |
| Deep Sky Objects | ||
| M27 | Dumbbell Nebula | This planetary nebula can be viewed through binoculars. It was the first planetary nebula discovered by Charles Messier. |
| C73 | The globular cluster C73 is located near the Dumbbell Nebula. It is below naked-eye visibility so optical aids are necessary to view it. It is also known by its New General Catalogue number 1851. | |
| Cr 399 | Brocchi's Cluster, The Coathanger | This asterism (the stars are not gravitationally bound and thus, do not form a star cluster) spans 1.3° and is comprised of ten stars ranging in magnitude from +5 to +7. 4 Vul, 5 Vul, and 7 Vul are members of this group. A telescope will reveal fainter stars in the region. |
Copyright © 1995–2023 by L.M. Stockman and David Harper