The constellation of Ara, the Altar // E. Slawik/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA/M. Zamani
Click below for some info about this constellation as well as an annotated image!
Ara, which is Latin for "altar," is one of the original 48 constellations set down by Greek astronomer Ptolemy in the 2nd century.
In Greek mythology, Ara was the altar where the gods first made offerings before fighting the Titans during the Titanomachy. In usual depictions, the altar has flames and smokes "rising" towards the south.
There are two named stars in Ara:
Cervantes (μ Arae) is a Sun-like star about 51 light years away. It has four confirmed exoplanets orbiting it: Dulcinea, with about half the mass of Neptune; Rocinante, with about half the mass of Jupiter; Quijote, with about 1.5 times the mass of Jupiter; and Sancho, with about twice the mass of Jupiter. These names were given by the people of Spain: Cervantes refers to the Spanish author Miguel de Cervantes, author of Don Quixote. The exoplanets share names with characters from that novel: Quijote, the lead character; Dulcinea, his love interest; Rocinante, his horse; and Sancho, his squire.
Inquill (HD 156411) is another Sun-like star about 181 light years away. It has one confirmed exoplanet orbiting it, about 75% the mass of Jupiter, named Sumajmajta. Both names were given by the people of Peru: they are the two main characters in the love story Way to the Sun by Peruvian author Abraham Valdelomar.
