Corvus

Corvus, the Latin term for "crow" or "raven," is a modest constellation located in the southern celestial hemisphere. Its position near the celestial equator allows it to be visible from both the northern and southern hemispheres, although it appears more prominently in the south.

Stars

Comprising four principal stars that create a recognizable quadrilateral or trapezoid-shaped pattern, Corvus's primary stars include Alpha Corvi (also known as Alchiba), Beta, Gamma, and Delta Corvi. Alpha Corvi, the brightest star in Corvus, is a binary star system, showcasing two stars orbiting a common center of mass within the constellation.

History

One of the prominent stories involves a crow or raven sent by the god Apollo to retrieve water from a cup (Crater constellation). However, distracted by a fig tree and waiting for its fruit to ripen, the crow delays its return, presenting Apollo with a water snake instead and concocting a false excuse. Apollo, seeing through the deception, condemns both the crow (Corvus) and the cup (Crater) to eternal placement in the night sky as constellations, a punishment for the deceit.