In this article, we’ll be sharing with you everything you need to know about the constellation of Vulpecula, including how to find it, deep space objects contained within it and how to use it to find other night sky objects more easily.
The Constellation of Vulpecula
Vulpecula is one of seven constellations that Polish astronomer Johannes Hevelius (1611-1687) created. When this constellation was first introduced in 1687 it was known as ‘Vulpecula cum Ansere’ and depicted a fox carrying a goose. Vulpecula (the fox) and Anser (the goose) were separated into their own constellations then remerged into a new constellation. This new constellation is known as ‘Vulpecula’ which means ‘the little fox’ in Latin. There are no myths associated with this modern constellation.
To help you spot Vulpecula, here’s what SkySafari 6 shows.
Vulpecula has an area of 268 square degrees making it the 55th largest of the 88 recognized constellations. Its six brightest stars form a zigzag pattern. The asterism known as The Coathanger (as well as Collinder 399, Brocchi’s Cluster) is contained within the boundaries of Vulpecula and resembles a small, ~1.5° wide coat hanger.
In the image below, you can see that it’s a long and thin constellation, sandwiched between the famous Cygnus and tiny Sagitta.
In the next section discover how to find Vulpecula.
How To Find Vulpecula In The Night Sky
Vulpecula is part of the Perseus family of constellations and is visible to observers at latitudes between +90° and -55°. Evening observers in the Northern Hemisphere can best see it from May to December; it’s highest at 10pm in the middle of September.
Southern Hemisphere observers can best see it from June to September. The constellation of Vulpecula is bordered by the constellations Cygnus, Delphinus, Hercules, Lyra, Pegasus and Sagitta.
To find Vulpecula, do a naked-eye search for the Summer Triangle. Draw an imaginary line from Vega to Altair (~34°). Alpha Vulpeculae (on the inside of the Summer Triangle) and 1 Vulpeculae (on the outside of the Summer Triangle) are ~4° apart and the pair is ~18° from Vega and ~16° from Altair.
Alternatively, do a naked-eye search for the Northern Cross. Identify Albireo at the bottom of the Northern Cross then hop ~3° south southeast to Anser.
You can measure these distances with your hand at arm’s length.
To find Vulpecula’s exact position for your location on any night, use software such as Stellarium (free) or SkySafari.
Vulpecula’s Brightest Stars
Vulpecula is a small and faint constellation. It only has ten stars that shine at magnitude five and brighter, with the brightest being only magnitude 4.4. All of them are shown in the chart below, with the more interesting listed below that.
Alpha Vulpeculae (Anser) – This variable double star is the brightest in Vulpecula. The magnitude 4.44, orange giant primary and magnitude 5.93 secondary component are 427.7 arcseconds apart. This eruptive variable ranges in magnitude from 4.39 to 4.46. Anser is 295 light-years away.
T Vulpeculae – This magnitude 5.61 yellow supergiant is 1204 light-years away. It’s a pulsating variable ranging in magnitude from 5.41 to 6.09 with a period of 4.4355 days. Its mass is 10.0 Solar masses, its diameter is 20.7 Solar diameters and it’s 1.1 times hotter than the Sun.
1 Vulpeculae – This variable double star is 811 light-years away. The magnitude 4.76 blue-white subgiant primary and its magnitude 11.60 secondary components are 39.1 arcseconds apart. This eruptive variable ranges in magnitude from 4.57 to 4.77. Its mass is 6.5 Solar masses, its diameter is 6.3 Solar diameters and it’s 3.0 times hotter than the Sun.
13 Vulpeculae – This double star is the third brightest in Vulpecula and is 335 light-years away. The magnitude 4.59 blue-white giant primary and magnitude 7.73 secondary components are 1.4 arcseconds apart. This eruptive variable has a minimum magnitude of 4.58. Its mass is 4.6 Solar masses, its diameter is 3.9 Solar diameters and it’s 1.9 times hotter than the Sun.
15 Vulpeculae – This magnitude 4.65 white giant is 236 light-years away. It’s a rotating variable ranging in magnitude from 4.62 to 4.67 with a period of 14 days. Its mass is 2.4 Solar masses, its diameter is 2.9 Solar diameters and it’s 1.8 times hotter than the Sun.
16 Vulpeculae – This double star is 222 light-years away. The magnitude 5.26 yellow-white giant primary and its magnitude 6.19 secondary component are 0.8 arcseconds apart. Its mass is 1.5 Solar masses, its diameter is 3.1 Solar diameters and it’s 1.4 times hotter than the Sun.
21 Vulpeculae – This magnitude 5.19 white subgiant is 297 light-years away. It’s a pulsating variable ranging in magnitude from 5.36 to 5.41 with a period of 0.23 days. Its mass is 1.8 Solar masses, its diameter is 4.3 Solar diameters and it’s 1.4 times hotter than the Sun.
23 Vulpeculae – This double star is the second brightest star in Vulpecula and is 339 light-years away. The magnitude 4.51 orange giant primary and magnitude 6.94 secondary components are 0.1 arcseconds apart. Its mass is 1.2 Solar masses, its diameter is 29.8 Solar diameters and it’s 26% cooler than the Sun.
31 Vulpeculae – This magnitude 4.57 yellow-orange giant is 189 light-years away. It’s an eruptive variable ranging in magnitude from 3.77 to 4.08. Its mass is 1.1 Solar masses, its diameter is 10.5 Solar diameters and it’s 15% cooler than the Sun.
Star Hopping From Vulpecula
Vulpecula is too dim to be a good starting point for star hopping.
Objects To See Within Vulpecula
Vulpecula contains one Messier object and some other deep sky objects suitable for small telescope users.
M27 (NGC 6853, Dumbbell Nebula) – This planetary nebula has a magnitude of 7.09 and an apparent size of 8.0 x 5.7 arcminutes. It’s ~1200 light-years away and is at right ascension 20h 00m 33s and declination 22° 46’ 39”.
NGC 6823 – This bright nebula has a magnitude of 7.10 and an apparent size of 40.0 x 30.0 arcminutes. It’s 10.4 thousand light-years away and is at right ascension 19h 44m 5s and declination 23° 20’ 22”.
NGC 6885 (Caldwell 37) – This open cluster has a magnitude of 8.10 and an apparent size of 20.0 arcminutes. It’s 1950 light-years away and is at right ascension 20h 12m 57s and declination 26° 31’ 60”.
NGC 6940 – This open cluster has a magnitude of 6.30 and an apparent size of 25.0 arcminutes. It’s 2500 light-years away and is at right ascension 20h 35m 22s and declination 28° 21’ 36”.
Collinder 399 (The Coathanger, Brocchi’s Cluster) – This open cluster has a magnitude of 3.59 and an apparent size of 89.0 arcminutes. It’s 109 light-years away and is at right ascension 19h 26m 23s and declination 20° 13’ 39”.
Summary
Vulpecula is a small, dim, constellation but contains some exciting deep sky objects for small telescope users. Look for it within the Summer Triangle.
