Ara

Ara is a small southern constellation located between Scorpius and Triangulum Australe. Despite its small size, it contains several interesting deep-sky objects including the open cluster NGC 6193 and the Stingray Nebula. The Milky Way passes through its eastern portion.

Location in the Sky

When to Observe

Ara is best observed during July. It is located in the SQ3 quadrant and is primarily visible from the southern hemisphere. The constellation contains 8 main stars forming its asterism, with 17 Bayer/Flamsteed designated stars in total. Its brightest star is Beta Arae.

Mythology & History

In Greek mythology, Ara represents the altar on which the gods of Olympus swore an oath of allegiance before their battle against the Titans. After the Olympians' victory, the altar was placed in the sky as a memorial. Some traditions associate it with the altar of the centaur Chiron.