Corona Australis is the sparkling Southern Crown

Corona Australis, also known as the Southern Crown, presents a challenge to northerners due to its location. To locate the constellation, look for it below the Teapot asterism within the Sagittarius constellation during late summer evenings. EarthSky provides a chart to aid in its identification.

Corona Australis is composed of an arc of dim stars, resembling the wreath symbolism attributed to it by ancient Greeks. Unlike its northern counterpart, Corona Borealis, the stars of Corona Australis are significantly fainter, with the brightest shining at magnitude 4.11.

The constellation includes five notable stars. Beta Coronae Australis, located at the eastern edge of the arc, has a magnitude of 4.10 and is situated 474 light-years away. Alpha Coronae Australis, the next star in the arc, is magnitude 4.10 and 125 light-years distant. Gamma Coronae Australis, following the arc, is magnitude 4.23 and 58 light-years away. Epsilon Coronae Australis, 1.5 degrees west of Gamma, is magnitude 4.83 and 98 light-years distant.

Heading in the opposite direction from Beta, Delta Coronae Australis is a magnitude 4.57 star at a distance of 175 light-years. Zeta Coronae Australis, magnitude 4.74, is 184 light-years away, and at the end of the crown is a double star system, Eta 1 and 2 Coronae Australis, with magnitudes of 5.46 and 5.60, and distances of 347 and 607 light-years, respectively.

The dimness of the stars in Corona Australis makes it best viewed under clear, dark skies far from city lights. Despite its faintness, the constellation's graceful, curving shape adds to its allure, earning it the nickname "the sparkling Southern Crown."