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

Data for constellation Corvus ^[150]
IAU Name	Corvus
IAU Genitive	Corvi
IAU Abbr.	Crv
English Name	Crow
Season (47° N)	January … May
Right Ascension	11^h 56^m 22^s … 12^h 56^m 40^s
Declination	-25° 11' 45" … -11° 40' 39"
Area	184 deg²
Neighbours (N↻)	Vir, Crt, Hya

Deep-Sky Object Descriptions

Antennae Galaxies
NGC 4038/9

NGC 4361

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

Yale Bright Star Catalogue, 5th Revised Ed. (Hoffleit+, 1991) ^[154]
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

Revised+Historic NGC/IC, Version 22/9, © Dr. Wolfgang Steinicke ^[277]
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

«Strasbourg-ESO Catalogue of Galactic Planetary Nebulae» Acker et al., 1992 ^[141]
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

7	«Der grosse Kosmos-Himmelsführer» von Ian Ridpath und Wil Tirion; Kosmos Verlag; ISBN 3-440-05787-9
9	«Drehbare Sternkarte SIRIUS» von H. Suter-Haug; Hallwag-Verlag, Bern
15	«Hartung's Astronomical Objects for Southern Telescopes» by David Malin and David J. Frew; Melbourne University Press 1995; ISBN 0-522-84553-3
20	«Sternbilder und ihre Mythen» von Gerhard Fasching; Zweite, verbesserte Auflage; Springer Verlag Wien, New York; ISBN 3-211-82552-5 (Wien); ISBN 0-387-82552-5 (New York)
28	«Uranometria omnium asterismorum continens schemata, nova methodo delineata aereis laminis expressa» Johann Bayer, Augsburg, 1603; DOI:10.3931/e-rara-309
141	Strasbourg-ESO Catalogue of Galactic Planetary Nebulae; A. Acker, F. Ochsenbein, B. Stenholm, R. Tylenda, J. Marcout, C. Schohn; European Southern Observatory; ISBN 3-923524-41-2 (1992); Bibcode:1992secg.book.....A; cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr/viz-bin/cat/V/84
150	IAU: The Constellations, 11. Oktober 2020; iau.org/public/themes/constellations
154	Yale Bright Star Catalog, 15. Oktober 2020; tdc-www.harvard.edu/catalogs/bsc5.html
277	«Historische Deep-Sky Kataloge» von Dr. Wolfgang Steinicke; klima-luft.de/steinicke (2021-02-17)