the crow · pronounced KOR-vus. Corvus is a small equatorial constellation distinguished by a four-star quadrilateral that resembles a tilted sail. It sits on the back of Hydra in classical charts, beside Crater, and is easiest to find below Virgo during Northern Hemisphere spring. Ptolemy listed Corvus among the ancient 48 constellations. In a familiar Greek story the crow served Apollo, but was punished for bringing a false excuse; the neighboring cup and water snake became part of the same moral tableau. The stars of the quadrilateral are not physically associated, yet their balanced brightness makes the figure stand out in otherwise sparse sky. Corvus also points observers toward the Antennae Galaxies, a famous pair in collision whose long tidal tails reveal the effects of gravitational interaction. The planetary nebula NGC 4361 is a more accessible telescopic target. Because Corvus straddles celestial latitudes visible from both hemispheres, its observing season is widely shared, though local altitude changes. Its modern IAU boundaries encompass much more than the familiar four-star “Spica’s Spanker” asterism.
About Corvus
Corvus is one of the 88 constellations recognized by the International Astronomical Union. Its standard three-letter abbreviation is Crv, and astronomers use the genitive form Corvi when naming stars associated with it. The constellation's reference position lies around right ascension -11.6 hours and declination -20 degrees.
Its location places it in the celestial equator. For a typical mid-latitude observer, this part of the celestial sphere is especially well placed during spring evenings. Exact visibility depends on latitude, local horizon, date and time.
History and mythology of Corvus
Historical origin
Ptolemy listed Corvus among the ancient 48 constellations. In a familiar Greek story the crow served Apollo, but was punished for bringing a false excuse; the neighboring cup and water snake became part of the same moral tableau.
The modern constellation
Corvus became one of the 88 official constellations standardized by the International Astronomical Union. Its boundary is a coordinate-defined sky region, while the familiar line figure joins only selected stars and has no physical depth.
Reading the cultural record
Names and stories attached to this part of the sky changed across languages, periods and communities. Cultural parallels should be identified from specialist sources rather than presented as interchangeable versions of Corvus.
How to find Corvus
- Use a location-aware chart and observe when Corvus reaches its highest evening altitude; check that the full constellation rises from your latitude.
- Locate Gienah, magnitude 2.6, then compare its direction with a brighter neighboring constellation rather than relying on line art alone.
- Trace the main pattern toward Kraz; binoculars reveal the fainter connecting stars while preserving a wide field.
- Move to Antennae Galaxies with a low-power eyepiece or binoculars, then increase magnification only if its surface brightness permits.
Bright stars in Corvus
Gienah
Notable star- Magnitude
- 2.6
- Distance
- 154 ly
A blue-white giant forming the northwestern corner of Corvus’s quadrilateral.
Kraz
Notable star- Magnitude
- 2.6
- Distance
- 146 ly
A yellow giant at the opposite upper corner of the main pattern.
Algorab
Notable star- Magnitude
- 2.9
- Distance
- 87 ly
A readily split optical-looking double whose components have contrasting brightness.
Minkar
Notable star- Magnitude
- 3.0
- Distance
- 318 ly
An orange giant marking the lower edge of the quadrilateral.
Deep-sky objects in Corvus
Antennae Galaxies
NGC 4038 and NGC 4039 are merging galaxies with spectacular tidal tails and vigorous star formation.
NGC 4361
A relatively large planetary nebula with a hot central star, accessible to medium telescopes.
NGC 4027
A distorted one-armed galaxy whose asymmetry records a past interaction.
Interesting facts about Corvus
- Corvus’s traditional name refers to crow, while its official IAU boundary defines a precise region of the sky.
- Gienah, at magnitude 2.6, is a key star in Corvus. A blue-white giant forming the northwestern corner of Corvus’s quadrilateral.
- Antennae Galaxies is a notable interacting galaxies in Corvus. NGC 4038 and NGC 4039 are merging galaxies with spectacular tidal tails and vigorous star formation.
- NGC 4361, a planetary nebula, is another observing target within the constellation.
- Ptolemy listed Corvus among the ancient 48 constellations.