Abbreviation:

Del

English Name:

Dolphin

Coordinates

see Stellar data

Particulars:

• Binaries gamma Del, kappa Del, Struve 2725
• Globular cluster NGC 6934

General:

Delphinus, the dolphin, is a small constellation of the family of the "Heavenly Waters" lying north, but close to the celestial equator.
The four main stars form an asterism known as "Job's Coffin". The names of the two main stars, alpha Del and beta Del, Sualocin and Rotanev, were first mentioned in 1814 in a star catalog, published at the Palermo Observatory in Italy. Read backwards these two names resolved to Nicolaus Venator, which is the latin version for the italian name Niccolo Cacciatore, who was the assistant director of the observatory in this time.

Stars and other objects

Gamma Del is a wide double which can be resolved by binoculars. The magnitudes of the components are 4.5 mag and 5.5 mag.
Struve 2725 is a closer double. The two stars are of 7th and 8th mag. This double lies nearly in the same field of view as gamma Del.
The region around Delphinus is usually mentioned for novae.

Mythological Background:

The dolphin represents a messenger of the sea-god Poseidon.