velorum

Velorum is not a separate celestial object; it is the genitive form of the Latin constellation name Vela, used in stellar nomenclature to indicate stars that lie within the region of the sky known as Vela. In practice, Velorum appears in the designations of several stars, such as Delta Velorum, Epsilon Velorum, and Gamma Velorum, signaling that these stars are part of the Vela constellation.

The name Vela means sails, and the constellation represents the sails of the mythical ship Argo Navis. In the 18th century, Argo Navis was divided into three smaller constellations—Carina, Puppis, and Vela—by astronomers to create more manageable boundaries. Since then, Velorum functions as a Latin genitive used in standard star naming to identify stars associated with Vela.

Most Velorum-designated stars are southern-sky objects, best observed from southern latitudes. They are generally not prominent from mid- to high northern latitudes, which means observers in those regions will have limited or no visibility of many Velorum stars.

In modern astronomical practice, Velorum is used primarily as a naming convention rather than as a distinct astronomical entity. It appears in historical and contemporary catalogs to denote membership in the Vela constellation and to organize the many stars within that region of the sky. Related topics include the constellation Vela, the historical Argo Navis, and the Bayer designation system.