// Constellation
Vela
“Sails”
- Latin name
- Vela (Vel)
- Best visibility
- evenings in March
- Fully visible between
- 33° N – 90° S
- Naked-eye stars
- 127
Vela is highest in the evening sky (around 9 pm) in March. The whole constellation rises above the horizon between 33° N and 90° S. Its brightest star is γ² Vel at magnitude 1.75 — about 1,117 light-years away.
The brightest stars
| Star | Designation | Magnitude | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| — | γ² Vel | 1.75 | 1,117 ly |
| Alsephina | δ Vel | 1.93 | 81 ly |
| Suhail | λ Vel | 2.23 | 545 ly |
| Markeb | κ Vel | 2.47 | 572 ly |
| — | μ Vel | 2.69 | 117 ly |
| — | — | 3.16 | 239 ly |
More constellations
Star data: HYG database. Constellation borders: IAU.