Columba (the Dove) is a southern constellation introduced by Dutch astronomer Petrus Plancius in 1592. It is traditionally associated with the dove sent out by Noah during the biblical Great Flood, although its position near the former constellation Argo Navis has also inspired comparisons with the dove in the Greek story of Jason and the Argonauts.
Columba is moderately easy to recognize from southern latitudes, thanks to its brightest star, Phact, which shines at magnitude 2.6. The constellation also contains several interesting deep-sky objects, including the globular cluster NGC 1851 and the active spiral galaxy NGC 1808.
Where Is Columba and When Can You See It?
Columba is the 54th-largest constellation, covering approximately 270 square degrees of sky. It lies directly south of Lepus and southwest of the brilliant star Sirius in Canis Major. Its neighboring constellations include Caelum, Pictor, Puppis, Lepus, and Canis Major.
The constellation is best observed during January and February, when it is well positioned in the evening sky. It is especially prominent from the Southern Hemisphere, where it appears high in the summer sky. Observers in the southern United States and Mediterranean region can also see Columba, although it remains relatively low above the southern horizon. From Britain, most of the constellation lies below the horizon.
To find Columba, locate the three stars of Orion’s Belt and follow their line toward Sirius. Continue southward past Lepus to reach the brighter stars of Columba. Phact and Wezn provide useful reference points for identifying the constellation.
History and Mythology of Columba
Columba was introduced by Petrus Plancius in 1592, originally under the name Columba Noachi, meaning Noah’s Dove. In the biblical account of the Great Flood, Noah released a dove from the Ark to search for dry land. When the bird returned carrying an olive leaf, it indicated that the floodwaters were receding.
A second possible association comes from Greek mythology. Jason and the Argonauts reportedly released a dove to test whether their ship could safely pass between the dangerous Clashing Rocks, also known as the Symplegades. Because Columba lies near the former constellation Argo Navis, which represented Jason’s ship, the Greek interpretation provides an interesting alternative.
However, the modern constellation was established by Plancius rather than inherited directly from classical Greek astronomy. Argo Navis itself was eventually replaced by three separate constellations: Carina, Puppis, and Vela.
Notable Stars in Columba
- Phact (Alpha Columbae) – The brightest star in Columba, a blue-white star approximately 270 light-years away, shining at magnitude 2.6. It is a rapidly rotating Be star surrounded by material expelled from its equatorial region. Its name derives from an Arabic term associated with a ring dove.
- Wezn (Beta Columbae) – An orange giant approximately 86 light-years away, with an apparent magnitude of 3.1. Its name comes from an Arabic word meaning “weight.”
- Ghusn al Zaitun (Delta Columbae) – A yellow evolved star approximately 240 light-years away, shining at magnitude 3.9. It belongs to a spectroscopic binary system and has a name meaning “olive branch,” reflecting the constellation’s association with Noah’s dove.
- Gamma Columbae – A hot blue-white star of approximately fourth magnitude, contributing to the constellation’s recognizable pattern.
- Mu Columbae – A runaway star traveling rapidly through space. Astronomers have traced its motion back toward the Orion region, where it may have been ejected from a former multiple-star system.
Notable Deep-Sky Objects in Columba
Columba contains no Messier objects, but it has several worthwhile targets for observers with binoculars and telescopes.
NGC 1851 — A Bright Globular Cluster
NGC 1851 is one of the constellation’s most accessible deep-sky objects. Located approximately 40,000 light-years away, this globular cluster shines at about magnitude 7.3. It appears as a faint, fuzzy patch through binoculars under dark skies, while telescopes reveal its bright central concentration and, with sufficient aperture, some of its outer stars.
NGC 1851 is particularly interesting because its stellar populations show differences in chemical composition. These have prompted investigations into whether the cluster experienced a complicated formation history, possibly involving the merger of separate stellar populations.
NGC 1808 — An Active Spiral Galaxy
NGC 1808 is a barred spiral galaxy approximately 40 million light-years away. It is notable for vigorous star formation near its center, where large numbers of young stars are forming within clouds of gas and dust. Its central region also displays activity associated with a supermassive black hole.
The galaxy’s spiral structure and bright nucleus make it an attractive photographic target, although a telescope is needed to observe it visually.
NGC 1792 — A Star-Forming Spiral Galaxy
NGC 1792 is another spiral galaxy, located approximately 35–40 million light-years away. It contains extensive regions of active star formation, giving its disk a mottled appearance in detailed photographs. NGC 1792 lies relatively close in the sky to NGC 1808, making the pair interesting objects to compare.
NGC 2090 — A Distant Spiral Galaxy
NGC 2090 is a spiral galaxy approximately 35–40 million light-years away. It has been studied using observations of Cepheid variable stars, whose predictable relationship between pulsation period and luminosity helps astronomers measure distances beyond the Milky Way.
Although less visually prominent than NGC 1808, it illustrates how seemingly ordinary galaxies can play an important role in establishing the cosmic distance scale.