IAU Constellation (Crv) · Genitive: Corvi · Southern Sky

Corvus (The Crow) Constellation & Antennae

Corvus IAU constellation (184 sq deg, rank 70): May southern trapezoid pointer to Spica, led by Gienah (+2.58), Algorab, and the Antennae Galaxies.

Solid-Angle Area184 sq deg (Rank #70 of 88)
Best Evening MonthMay
Visibility Latitudes+65° to −90°
Brightest StarGienah (Gamma Corvi) (+2.58)

Sky Navigation & Astrophysical Context

Perched on the back of the sea serpent Hydra just southwest of Spica in Virgo, Corvus covers 184 square degrees of the spring southern sky. Its four principal third-magnitude stars—Gienah (Gamma Corvi, +2.58), Kraz (Beta Corvi, +2.65), Algorab (Delta Corvi, +2.94), and Minkar (Epsilon Corvi, +3.02)—form a compact, skewed quadrilateral known to navigators as 'Spica's Spanker' or the Sail of Corvus.

The northern slanted edge of the trapezoid—connecting Gienah through Algorab—acts as a precision celestial pointer: extending that line 11° northeast points straight to first-magnitude Spica (Alpha Virginis), while stepping just 5.5° northeast from Algorab through the miniature arrowheads of Jabbah and Stargate asterisms lands directly on the Sombrero Galaxy (Messier 104) on the Corvus–Virgo border.

In southwestern Corvus, 3.5° southwest of Gienah, lies the iconic colliding spiral pair NGC 4038 and NGC 4039—the Antennae Galaxies (Caldwell 60/61)—where tidal interaction has flung out two 100-kiloparsec tails of stars and triggered massive super-star-cluster bursts, alongside the bright high-surface-brightness planetary nebula NGC 4361.

Bordering IAU Constellations: Virgo, Crater, Hydra.

Equatorial Center Position & Transit Altitude

Corvus is centered near Right Ascension 12h 26m 24s, Declination −18° 25′ 48″ (The Crow (Raven)).

J2000 Equatorial Sky Position (Corvus) +90° 0° −90° 24h 12h RA 0h Peak Meridian Altitude 32° 40°N Lat 78° 30°S Lat RA: 12h 26m 24s Dec: −18° 25′ 48″ Epoch: J2000.0 · 184 sq deg (Rank #70) First-party vector diagram derived from IAU / CDS SIMBAD / Gaia DR3 astrometry.

Practical Star-Hopping & Observing Tips

  • Use the top two stars of the Corvus sail (Gienah and Algorab) as a pointer line eastward to Spica or hop 5.5° northeast of Algorab to find the Sombrero Galaxy (M104).
  • Split Algorab (Delta Corvi, +2.95) at 60× in a small telescope to spot its +8.5-magnitude K2 V orange-pink companion separated by 24.2 arcseconds.
  • Aim a 200 mm+ telescope 3.5° southwest of Gienah (Gamma Corvi) under dark skies to resolve the bilobed colliding cores of the Antennae Galaxies (NGC 4038/4039).

Notable Celestial Objects in & Near Corvus

Cataloged Stars and Deep-Sky Objects Associated with Corvus
ObjectFamilyClassificationRA (J2000)Dec (J2000)Min. Instrument
Sombrero Galaxy (Messier 104 / NGC 4594)galaxiesUnbarred early-type spiral / lenticular-halo galaxy with edge-on dust ring12h 39m 59.43s-11° 37′ 23.0″60–80 mm telescope (150 mm+ to clearly trace the dark equatorial dust lane)
Spica (Alpha Virginis Ellipsoidal Binary)starsDouble-lined spectroscopic & rotating ellipsoidal B-type binary (Beta Cephei variable)13h 25m 11.58s-11° 09′ 40.8″Naked eye
Antennae Galaxies (NGC 4038 & NGC 4039)galaxiesNearest major spiral-spiral galaxy merger in progress (Arp 244)12h 01m 53.00s-18° 52′ 03.3″100–130 mm telescope (250 mm+ to resolve the heart-shaped colliding disks)

Scientific Sources Cited