The Dolphin
Delphinus
January 29 - February 8
The stars of Delphinus, the Dolphin, a tiny constellation which, despite its size, was once called 'the glory of the flood of stars', are best seen in Summer in the northern hemisphere. They occupy an area of the skies known as the Sea in ancient Babylon, lying to the east of the great 'Summer Triangle', which is made up of Atair in Aquila (the Eagle), Deneb in Cygnus ( the Swan) and Vega in Lyra (the Lyre of Orpheus). Both Altair and Deneb are in the Milky way, with Vega, the Harp Star, lying to the west in the clear sky. To the east of the Milky Way, almost opposite the Harp Star, the Dolphin can be seen leaping through the heavens. Also known as Job's Coffin, it has a flattened diamond shape. The main stars, Sualocin and Rotanev, are pale yellow and dusky green respectively.
