Corona Borealis

constellation · northern sky · mythology · stars

A Celestial Crown. Corona Borealis looks like a glittering crown made of stars, and its name actually means 'northern crown' in Latin. Ancient astronomers chose this name because the brightest stars form a perfect semicircular arc, just like a crown you'd wear on your head.

Ancient and Famous. Corona Borealis is one of the original 48 constellations listed by Ptolemy, a famous astronomer who lived about 2,000 years ago. It's so special that it's still one of the 88 official constellations we recognize today.

Princess Ariadne's Gift. In ancient Greek stories, the god Dionysus gave a magical crown to a princess named Ariadne, and she placed it in the sky where it became this constellation. Different cultures around the world saw different things in this star pattern, like a circle of elders, an eagle's nest, or even a bear's den.

Has a Twin in the South. Corona Borealis has a southern counterpart called Corona Australis that sits in the opposite part of the sky and looks very similar. Together, these two constellations create a kind of mirror image across the heavens.

Brightest Star is Alphecca. The most brilliant star in Corona Borealis is called Alphecca, which shines brightly enough to spot even from towns with some light pollution. It marks one of the crown's most important jewels.