Vulpeculae

Vulpecula, the little fox, is a small northern constellation whose name is Latin for the fox. It contains mostly faint stars and a number of notable deep-sky objects, making it more prominent to observers with larger telescopes than to casual stargazers.

History and naming: The area was introduced by the 17th-century Polish-Lrench astronomer Johannes Hevelius as Vulpecula cum Ansere, the fox with the goose. In the 18th century, the goose portion was separated into its own constellation, Anser, and today Vulpecula refers to the fox alone.

celestial position and layout: Vulpecula lies along the Milky Way in the northern sky, generally depicted as a loose, nondescript figure between the constellations Cygnus to the north and Sagitta toward the west. The pattern is not particularly bright, and its stars form a diffuse shape rather than a sharp, easily recognizable figure.

notable deep-sky objects: The region is home to several well-known objects. The Dumbbell Nebula, designated M27 or NGC 6853, is a bright planetary nebula often cited as one of the first planetary nebulae identified by Messier. The Coathanger asterism, also known as Brocchi’s Cluster (Collinder 399), is a prominent visual feature near the constellation’s border and is visible to the unaided eye under dark skies as a loose grouping of stars.

visibility and observing notes: Vulpecula is best observed from mid-northern latitudes during the summer months in the evening sky. Its faint stars and rich Milky Way backdrop reward observers with binoculars or a small telescope, especially when targeting M27 and the Coathanger cluster.