Constellation Corvus (Crow)

Properties
The constellation Corvus is located southwest of the bright star Spica in Virgo. Although the stars are not particularly bright, they form a distinctive shape of a tall, rather rectangular trapezoid. The constellation occupies an area of 184 square degrees in the sky and its center culminates around midnight on March 28th. [9, 15]
Stars with Proper Names:
- α Crv: Alchiba, Alchita, Al Minliar Al Ghurab, Al Chiba
- β Crv: Kraz
- γ Crv: Gienah Ghurab, Gienah
- δ Crv: Algorab, Algores, Algoral, Algorel
- ε Crv: Minkar
Deep-Sky Object Descriptions

Mythology and History
The origin of this constellation can be traced back at least to the ancient Greeks. According to legend, Apollo sent the raven to fetch fresh spring water with a golden cup. Instead, however, the raven feasted on figs, and when he returned he carried the water snake in his clutches. He croaked outrageously that this would have prevented him from fulfilling his sacred duty. However, Apollo recognized the lie and banished all three to the sky, where Corvus and Crater (cup) lie on the back of the hydra (water snake). In addition, the raven was condemned to eternal thirst - an "attempt to explain" the croaking cries of these birds.
According to another legend, a white raven brought Apollo the news that Coronis, his lover, had been unfaithful to him. Apollon is said to have blackened the raven out of anger. In the Greek world of legends, Apollo was always closely associated with ravens, as he himself had turned into a raven in the conflict between the gods and the titans.
The Indians from the Rio Negro river basin in northern Brazil see a flying heron in the raven. [7, 20]
Catalogs
HR | B | F | DM | HD | SAO | FK5 | IR | M* | ADS | VarID | RA | Dec | vMag | spType | dMag | Sep ["] | Remarks |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
HR 4588 | BD-21 3443 | 104307 | 180374 | 8389 | 12 00 42.5 | -21 50 14 | 6.28 | K0IV | 7.1 | 11.7 | |||||||
HR 4590 | BD-18 3295 | 104337 | 157042 | 2961 | 12 00 51.2 | -19 39 32 | 5.26 | B1.5V | G:Possible blue straggler in Hyades group.,M:Old disk population runaway star.,N:31 Crt in Crv.,SB:2.9631d, K 120.5k/s, V0 +3k/s, msin3i 8.22, asini 4.90. | ||||||||
HR 4623 | α | 1 | CD-2410174 | 105452 | 180505 | 12 08 24.8 | -24 43 44 | 4.02 | F2III-IV | G:Sirius group? UMa stream.,N:Alchiba; Alchita; Al Minliar al Ghurab; Al Chiba.,S:Metal-deficient. | |||||||
HR 4630 | ε | 2 | BD-21 3487 | 105707 | 180531 | 453 | I | 5483 | 12 10 07.5 | -22 37 11 | 3.00 | K2.5IIIaBa0.2: | N:Minkar. | ||||
HR 4635 | 3 | BD-22 3305 | 105850 | 180546 | 12 11 03.9 | -23 36 09 | 5.46 | A2V | |||||||||
HR 4655 | BD-20 3606 | 106485 | 180602 | 12 14 59.6 | -20 50 39 | 5.83 | gG7 | ||||||||||
HR 4661 | BD-22 3322 | 106612 | 180619 | 8481 | 12 15 47.0 | -23 21 13 | 6.54 | F3V | 1.2 | 1.6 | D:6.8 F5, 7.9. | ||||||
HR 4662 | γ | 4 | BD-16 3424 | 106625 | 157176 | 457 | I | 5515 | 12 15 48.4 | -17 32 31 | 2.59 | B8IIIpHgMn | G:Hyades group; probable blue straggler.,M:Old disk population runaway star.,N:Gienah Ghurab; Gienah, a name also applied to HR 7949.,R:Diam. = 0.00072 - 0.00075".,VAR:Expanding circumstellar shell. | ||||
HR 4670 | BD-15 3442 | 106819 | 157184 | 5527 | 12 17 03.3 | -16 41 37 | 6.05 | A2IV | |||||||||
HR 4691 | BD-21 3511 | 107295 | 180695 | 8515 | 12 20 10.7 | -22 10 32 | 5.97 | G3IV | 1.8 | 0.3 | |||||||
HR 4696 | ζ | 5 | BD-21 3514 | 107348 | 180700 | 8517 | 12 20 33.7 | -22 12 57 | 5.21 | B8Vne | 8.4 | 11.2 | D:Companion F6III optical. | ||||
HR 4699 | BD-12 3614 | 107418 | 157226 | 2988 | I | W | 5564 | 12 20 55.7 | -13 33 56 | 5.14 | K1III | 8.1 | 48.6 | ||||
HR 4711 | 6 | CD-2410314 | 107815 | 180747 | 12 23 21.6 | -24 50 26 | 5.68 | gK1 | |||||||||
HR 4742 | BD-15 3471 | 108477 | 157299 | 12 27 49.4 | -16 37 55 | 6.35 | G3III | ||||||||||
HR 4757 | δ | 7 | BD-15 3482 | 108767 | 157323 | 465 | I | 8572 A | 5656 | 12 29 51.9 | -16 30 56 | 2.95 | B9.5V | 5.3 | 24.4 | D:CPM. B is K2Ve, lithium strong.,G:Pleiades group.,N:Algorab; Algores; Algoral; Algorel.,S:uv indicates dB9.5, CIff.,VAR:ADS 8572A. | |
HR 4758 | BD-12 3647 | 108799 | 157326 | 8573 | 12 30 04.8 | -13 23 35 | 6.35 | G0V | 2.7 | 1.5 | D:AB 6.5 G0V, 8.6, 161.53y, a = 1.385".,DYN:0.042". | ||||||
HR 4759 | BD-22 3383 | 108821 | 180850 | I | 5662 | 12 30 17.5 | -23 41 48 | 5.63 | M0III | ||||||||
HR 4775 | η | 8 | BD-15 3489 | 109085 | 157345 | 5690 | 12 32 04.2 | -16 11 46 | 4.31 | F2III-IV | VAR:Delta Sct? | ||||||
HR 4776 | BD-13 3552 | 109141 | 157350 | 12 32 36.0 | -13 51 33 | 5.74 | F2V | ||||||||||
HR 4778 | BD-18 3416 | 109238 | 157359 | 5715 | 12 33 22.4 | -19 47 31 | 6.26 | F2V | |||||||||
HR 4779 | BD-12 3659 | 109272 | 157361 | 1321 | 12 33 34.3 | -12 49 49 | 5.58 | G8III | |||||||||
HR 4786 | β | 9 | BD-22 3401 | 109379 | 180915 | 471 | I | 5729 | 12 34 23.2 | -23 23 48 | 2.65 | G5II | N:Kraz in Becvar; Allen says unnamed. | ||||
HR 4797 | BD-19 3521 | 109585 | 180937 | TU Crv | 12 35 58.6 | -20 31 38 | 6.20 | F0III | VAR:Delta Sct, amp. 0.02B, 0.082d. | ||||||||
HR 4809 | BD-17 3668 | 109931 | 157415 | 3010 | 12 38 44.6 | -18 15 01 | 6.00 | dA6 | |||||||||
HR 4821 | BD-12 3676 | 110317 | 157447 | 8627 B | 5855 | 12 41 16.0 | -13 00 49 | 6.08 H | F3Vn | 0.1 | 5.4 | D:Binary with HR 4822, q.v.,G:Hyades group.,SB:1.46047d, K 88.2k/s, V0 -14.6k/s, msin3i 0.531, asini 1.76.,VAR:See HR 4822. | |||||
HR 4822 | BD-12 3676 | 110318 | 157448 | 8627 A | 5855 | 12 41 16.2 | -13 00 54 | 5.98 H | F5V | 0.1 | 5.4 | D:Binary with HR 4821. Colors for combined light. Mag. of blend, 5.27V. Component C, 10.5v at 59" optical.,G:Hyades group.,SB:44.4137d, K 25.9k/s, V0 -11.6k/s, asini 15.3.,VAR:Uncertain which component is variable suspect. Combined max. mag. 5.14V. E?, amp. 0.15V. | |||||
HR 4827 | BD-18 3442 | 110385 | 157451 | 12 41 49.2 | -19 45 31 | 6.03 | F3-5III | G:Hyades group. | |||||||||
HR 4911 | BD-14 3605 | 112304 | 157599 | 3033 | 12 55 53.3 | -15 19 37 | 6.17 | A0Vn |
Planetary Nebulae | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Name | RA | Dec | Type | bMag | vMag | Dim | Dreyer Description | Identification, Remarks |
NGC 4361 | 12 24 30.8 | -18 47 03 | PN | 10.3 | 10.9 | 2.1 | vB, L, R, vsmbMN, r | ESO 573-PN19, PK 294+43.1, CS=13.2 |
Galaxies | ||||||||
Name | RA | Dec | Type | bMag | vMag | Dim | Dreyer Description | Identification, Remarks |
NGC 3472 | 11 57 28.1 | -19 37 26 | S0 | 15.1 | 14.3 | 0.8 × 0.6 | eF, S, R, gbM | ESO 572-25 |
NGC 4024 | 11 58 31.5 | -18 20 48 | E/SB0 | 12.7 | 11.7 | 1.9 × 1.6 | F, vS, iF, bM | ESO 572-31, MCG -3-31-4 |
NGC 4027 | 11 59 30.5 | -19 15 57 | SBd | 11.7 | 11.1 | 3.3 × 2.4 | globular, pF, pL, R, rr, st 16 | ESO 572-37, MCG -3-31-8, UGCA 260, VV 66, Arp 22, 1SZ 109, 8ZW 158, IRAS 11569-1859 |
NGC 4027 A | 11 59 29.3 | -19 19 55 | IBm | 14.9 | 14.5 | 0.9 × 0.6 | globular, pF, pL, R, rr, st 16 | ESO 572-36, MCG -3-31-7, VV 66, Arp 22 |
NGC 4033 | 12 00 34.7 | -17 50 36 | E6 | 12.6 | 11.7 | 2.4 × 1.2 | pB, S, lE, bM | ESO 572-42, MCG -3-31-11 |
NGC 4035 | 12 00 29.2 | -15 56 57 | SBbc | 14.2 | 13.4 | 1.1 × 1 | eF, pL, * 9 m 45° ± | MCG -3-31-10, 1SZ 122, IRAS 11579-1540 |
NGC 4038 | 12 01 52.8 | -18 51 52 | SBm | 10.9 | 10.3 | 3.4 × 1.7 | pB, cL, R, vgbM | ESO 572-47, MCG -3-31-14, UGCA 264, Arp 244, VV 245, Antennae |
NGC 4039 | 12 01 53.8 | -18 53 08 | SBm | 10.9 | 10.3 | 3.3 × 1.7 | pF, pL | ESO 572-48, MCG -3-31-15, UGCA 265, Arp 244, VV 245, Antennae |
NGC 4050 | 12 02 53.9 | -16 22 27 | SBab | 13.1 | 12.2 | 3 × 2 | F, cL, iR, lbM | MCG -3-31-16, IRAS 12003-1605 |
NGC 4094 | 12 05 53.9 | -14 31 34 | SBc | 12.7 | 12.0 | 4.1 × 1.5 | eF, L, pmE, vgbM, 2 st 11 nr | MCG -2-31-16, UGCA 269, IRAS 12033-1414 |
NGC 4114 | 12 07 12.2 | -14 11 05 | SBa | 14.0 | 13.1 | 1.8 × 0.8 | cF, S, iR, gbM | MCG -2-31-18, NPM1G -13.0366 |
NGC 4177 | 12 12 41.2 | -14 00 50 | Sc | 13.2 | 12.5 | 1.7 × 1.2 | vF, pL, R, vgbM | MCG -2-31-21, IRAS 12101-1344 |
NGC 4188 | 12 14 07.4 | -12 35 10 | Sb | 14.5 | 13.7 | 0.7 × 0.6 | eF, pS | MCG -2-31-23, IRAS 12115-1218 |
NGC 4225 | 12 16 38.3 | -12 19 37 | S0-a | 14.9 | 14.0 | 0.7 × 0.5 | F, eS, R, * 170°, 60" | MCG -2-31-27, NPM1G -12.0397, IRAS 12140-1203 |
NGC 4263 | 12 19 42.2 | -12 13 32 | Sb | 13.4 | 12.6 | 1.2 × 0.6 | vF, pL, iF | NGC 4265, MCG -2-32-1, IRAS 12171-1156 |
NGC 4329 | 12 23 20.7 | -12 33 29 | E5 | 14.5 | 13.5 | 1.1 × 0.6 | vF, vS, R, bMN | MCG -2-32-9 |
NGC 4462 | 12 29 21.0 | -23 09 59 | SBab | 12.8 | 12.0 | 3.1 × 1.1 | pB, pS, E 130°, sbM | ESO 506-13, MCG -4-30-2, AM 1226-225, IRAS 12266-2253 |
NGC 4524 | 12 33 54.4 | -12 01 38 | Sbc | 14.2 | 13.4 | 1.3 × 0.8 | vF, iF, bM | MCG -2-32-14, IRAS 12312-1145 |
NGC 4714 | 12 50 19.2 | -13 19 28 | E-S0 | 13.7 | 12.7 | 1.6 × 1.2 | F, pS, R, gbM | MCG -2-33-18 |
NGC 4722 | 12 51 32.3 | -13 19 48 | S0-a | 13.7 | 12.8 | 1.8 × 0.7 | 2 vF, vS, f III 356 | IC 3833, MCG -2-33-31, IRAS 12488-1303 |
NGC 4723 | 12 51 03.0 | -13 14 12 | Sm | 15.1 | 14.5 | 1.1 × 0.7 | 2 vF, vS, f III 356 | MCG -2-33-26 |
NGC 4724 | 12 50 53.6 | -14 19 56 | E-S0 | 13.7 | 12.7 | 0.9 × 0.6 | F, vS, R, stellar, np of 2 | MCG -2-33-22 |
NGC 4726 | 12 50 46.0 | -14 16 04 | S0 | 15.8 | 14.8 | 1.2 × 0.2 | vF, 4' n of D neb | |
NGC 4727 | 12 50 57.2 | -14 19 59 | SBbc | 12.6 | 11.8 | 1.6 × 1.2 | F, pL, R, lbM, sf of 2 | NGC 4740, MCG -2-33-23, IRAS 12483-1403 |
NGC 4748 1 | 12 52 12.6 | -13 24 49 | Sa | 14.6 | 13.7 | 0.8 × 0.7 | F, vS, iR, gbM | MCG -2-33-34, IRAS 12495-1308 |
NGC 4748 2 | 12 52 12.9 | -13 24 39 | SB | 15.0 | 14.1 | 0.5 × 0.4 | F, vS, iR, gbM | |
NGC 4756 | 12 52 52.2 | -15 24 45 | E-S0 | 13.4 | 12.4 | 1.7 × 1.3 | vF, pS, r | MCG -2-33-39, DRCG 25-59 |
NGC 4763 | 12 53 27.1 | -17 00 21 | SBa | 13.1 | 12.4 | 1.2 × 0.8 | vF, S, lbM | MCG -3-33-13, IRAS 12507-1643 |
NGC 4782 | 12 54 35.8 | -12 34 09 | E1 | 12.7 | 11.7 | 1.8 × 1.7 | pF, pS, R, mbM, p of D neb | MCG -2-33-50, VV 201, 3C 278 |
NGC 4783 | 12 54 36.4 | -12 33 29 | E0/P | 12.6 | 11.6 | 2.3 × 1.3 | pF, pS, R, mbM, f of D neb | MCG -2-33-51, VV 201, 3C 278 |
NGC 4792 | 12 55 03.6 | -12 29 48 | S0 | 15.2 | 14.2 | 0.7 × 0.3 | vS, R, 7' n np of II 538 | NPM1G -12.0432 |
NGC 4794 | 12 55 10.4 | -12 36 33 | SBa | 14.5 | 13.6 | 1.7 × 0.7 | vF, S, 2 or 3 st near | MCG -2-33-60 |
NGC 4802 | 12 55 49.6 | -12 03 17 | S0 | 12.4 | 11.4 | 2.4 × 1.6 | vF, S, * 10 att | MCG -2-33-61, IRAS 12532-1147 |
IC 761 | 12 05 53.6 | -12 40 22 | S0 | 15.8 | 14.8 | 0.7 × 0.2 | Neb * 14m | MCG -2-31-14, NPM1G -12.0389 |
IC 766 | 12 10 53.6 | -12 39 17 | S0-a | 14.9 | 14.0 | 1.3 × 0.3 | pB, E ns, sbMN = 14m | MCG -2-31-20 |
IC 785 | 12 23 02.0 | -13 13 23 | Sc | 14.7 | 14.0 | 0.9 × 0.3 | F, vS, R, stell | MCG -2-32-7, NPM1G -12.0404, IRAS 12204-1256 |
IC 786 | 12 23 10.9 | -13 12 15 | S0 | 14.4 | 13.4 | 1 × 0.9 | vF, eS, R, stell | MCG -2-32-8, NPM1G -12.0405 |
IC 806 | 12 42 08.4 | -17 20 59 | Sab | 15.2 | 14.4 | 0.7 × 0.6 | eF, eS, R, * 12 close | MCG -3-32-19, NPM1G -17.0339 |
IC 807 | 12 42 12.4 | -17 24 13 | E-S0 | 14.3 | 13.3 | 0.7 × 0.7 | pF, vS, R, gbM | MCG -3-32-20, NPM1G -17.0340 |
IC 829 | 12 52 27.3 | -15 31 05 | S0-a | 14.6 | 13.7 | 0.7 × 0.6 | Neb * 13m | MCG -2-33-37, NPM1G -15.0446, DRCG 25-45 |
IC 3799 | 12 48 59.5 | -14 23 55 | Scd | 14.4 | 13.7 | 2.4 × 0.3 | vF, pL, vmE 210°, 1st of 7 | MCG -2-33-11, FGC 1502 |
IC 3819 | 12 50 16.3 | -14 22 48 | E3 | 16.4 | 15.4 | 0.3 × 0.2 | eF, vS, 2nd of 7 | NPM1G -14.0474 |
IC 3822 | 12 50 22.6 | -14 19 21 | Sc | 15.2 | 14.5 | 1.2 × 0.1 | eF, vS, 3rd of 7 | MCG -2-33-19 |
IC 3824 | 12 50 30.5 | -14 25 31 | E4 | 15.6 | 14.6 | 0.5 × 0.3 | eF, vS, 4th of 7 | NPM1G -14.0475 |
IC 3825 | 12 50 37.0 | -14 28 58 | S | 16.0 | 15.2 | 0.3 × 0.2 | eeF, vS, ? * 14, 5th of 7 | |
IC 3831 | 12 51 18.5 | -14 34 24 | S0 | 13.6 | 12.6 | 1.4 × 0.9 | F, vS, R, bM, 7th of 7 | MCG -2-33-27 |
IC 3834 | 12 51 32.3 | -14 13 15 | Sb | 14.5 | 13.7 | 0.8 × 0.4 | vF, lbM, * 13 p 0'.8 | MCG -2-33-30 |
IC 3838 | 12 50 51.8 | -14 29 30 | Sc | 14.1 | 13.4 | 0.8 × 0.7 | vF, S, lbM, * 13 s 0'.8 | IC 3827, MCG -2-33-21, IRAS 12482-1413 |
PNG | RA | Dec | Main ID | PK | IRAS | Discoverer | Identities | oDiam ["] | rDiam ["] | Dist [kpc] | Rvel [km/s] | ExpVel [km/s] | C* Name | C* Mag | C* SP Type |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PN G294.1+43.6 | 12 24 31 | -18 47 09 | NGC 4361 | 294+43.1 | 12219-1830 | HERSCHEL 1868 | ARO 26, ESO 573-19, VV 62, VV' 110 | 63. | 1.2 | +9.0 ± 2.0 | 32.0 (O-III) | AG82 145, BD -17 3614, GCRV 7449, HD 107969 | U: 11.53, B: 12.85, V: 13.21 | O(H) | |
PN G303.6+40.0 | 12 53 41 | -22 51 42 | A 35 | 303+40.1 | ABELL 1955 | A55 24, Sh 2-313, VV' 112 | 770. | 700. | 0.36 | -6.6 ± 3.8 | 4.0 (O-III) | AG82 148, BD -22 3467, CD -22 9659, CPD -22 5522:LW Hya, SAO 181201 | U: 10.88, B: 10.53, V: 9.63 | ? + G8 IV |