Vela

For the Observer

The Stars of Spring

Alpha Vela (08h 46m -46°02') is a 3.9 magnitude class A white giant star. It is 300 light years distant.

Beta Vela (08h 40.3m -46°38') is a yellow supergiant of magnitude 3.8 The reason for the stars apparent dimness is its distance from us, over 6000 light years!

Gamma Vela (08h 09.3m -47°20') is actually the brightest star in Vela with a magnitude of 1.7 The star is a variable.