Star Lore Of All Ages/The Minor Constellations/Columba Noæ

by William Tyler Olcott

Columba

Columba Noæ
Noah's Dove

The surer messenger,
A Dove sent forth...

The Dove first appeared on Royer's star map of 1679, although Allen tells us that it had appeared seventy-six years before on Bayer's plate of Canis Major. It is thought also that Cæsius alluded to it seventeen centuries ago.

The asterism comprises the stars to the south and west of the Greater Dog, and is appropriately situated close to the Ship, which is identified with Noah's Ark.

Alpha Columbæ bears the modern titles "Phaet," "Phact," and "Phad." The Chinese called this star "the Old Folks."

Lockyer asserts that twelve different Egyptian temples were oriented to this star, notably those at Edfu and Philæ where Phact was worshipped as far back as 6400 b.c.

Allen considers the star too inconspicuous to warrant such prominence.

Phaet is a 2.5 magnitude star, situated 33° south of ε Orionis, and culminates at 9 p.m., Jan. 26th.

Beta Columbæ is known as "Wezn" or "Wazn," meaning the "weight."

According to Gould, Columba contains seventeen stars.

Photo by Bonfils
Temple of Edfu