International Star Registry

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Columba - Dove


Columba is sometimes known as Columba Noae and as Noah’s Dove. The reader will remember that seven days after the rain stopped, Noah let loose a dove, but it came back. After being released a second time, it returned with an olive leaf so Noah knew that his wet days were almost over, unless you count the time he got drunk in his new vineyard a little later on.

Why it is called Columba is not clear unless it refers to the fact that Columbus also finally found a bird near the end of his first voyage, indicating to him that land was near. In any case, the name of Noah’s bird is not mentioned in the Bible.
SymbolCol
Right Ascension 05:51
Declination-35
Diameter (°)9
Area (square °)270
Opposition Dec 19
Size Rank 54th
Brightness Rank 48th
GenitiveColumbae