Volans
Flying Fish (Volantis)
Volans, the Flying Fish, is a small, faint southern constellation created by Dutch navigators in the late 16th century. Located between Carina and Mensa, it represents the flying fish that sailors observed leaping from tropical seas during their voyages. Though dim, Volans contains several interesting galaxies for telescopic observers.
📜 Mythology
Volans was created from observations by Dutch navigators Pieter Dirkszoon Keyser and Frederick de Houtman during their expedition to the East Indies (1595-1597). It was introduced by Petrus Plancius in 1598, originally as 'Piscis Volans' (the Flying Fish). Flying fish, which launch themselves out of the water to escape predators, were a common and remarkable sight for sailors in tropical waters. Some early charts showed a flying fish being chased by the nearby constellation Dorado (the dolphinfish).
💡 Facts
- ✦Volans lies close to the south celestial pole and is circumpolar from much of the Southern Hemisphere
- ✦The Lindsay-Shapley Ring (AM0644-741) is a striking ring galaxy in Volans caused by a galactic collision
- ✦NGC 2442, the 'Meathook Galaxy,' is a distorted barred spiral visible in amateur telescopes