What is Volans?
{{otheruses}} {{Infobox Constellation| name = Volans | abbreviation = Vol | genitive = Volantis | pronounce = {{IPA-en|ˈvoʊlænz|}}, genitive {{IPA|/vɒˈlæntɨs/}} | symbolism = the [[Flying fish|Flying Fish]] | RA = 8 | dec= −70 | family = [[Bayer Family|Bayer]] | quadrant = SQ2 | areatotal = 141 | arearank = 76th | numbermainstars = 6 | numberbfstars = 12 | numberstarsplanets = 1 | numberbrightstars = 0 | numbernearbystars = 1 | brighteststarname = [[Beta Volantis|β Vol]] | starmagnitude = 3.77 | neareststarname = [[Gliese 293]] | stardistancely = 19.35 | stardistancepc = 5.93 | numbermessierobjects = 0 | meteorshowers = 0 | bordering = [[Carina (constellation)|Carina]]<br /> [[Pictor (constellation)|Pictor]]<br /> [[Dorado (constellation)|Dorado]]<br /> [[Mensa (constellation)|Mensa]]<br /> [[Chamaeleon (constellation)|Chamaeleon]] | latmax = [[15th parallel north|15]] | latmin = [[South Pole|90]] | month = March | notes=}} [[File:Phylakopi flying fish.jpg|thumb|left|180px|Painting of a flying fish]]The [[constellation]] '''Volans''' is a group of stars in the southern sky. It is in the shape of a [[flying fish]]. The name Volans is a shortened from of its original, '''Piscis Volans'''. Volans was one of twelve constellations created by [[Petrus Plancius]]. He made these constellations from observations by [[Pieter Dirkszoon Keyser]] and [[Frederick de Houtman]]. Volans first appeared on a 35-cm diameter [[celestial globe]] published in 1597 (or 1598) in Amsterdam by Plancius with [[Jodocus Hondius]]. The first image of this constellation in a [[celestial atlas]] was in [[Johann Bayer]]'s ''[[Uranometria]]'' of 1603. ==Stars and deep sky objects== [[File:Ngc2442 potw cropped.jpg|thumb|left|180px|Galaxy NGC 2442]]There are two [[double star]]s in the constellation which can be observed using a small [[telescope]], [[Gamma Volantis]] and [[Epsilon Volantis]]. There are also two [[galaxies]] that may be more difficult to see clearly, [[NGC 2442]] and [[NGC 2434]]. The magnitudes of the Gamma Volantis stars are fo