{{Infobox Constellation|
name = Ara |
abbreviation = Ara |
genitive = Arae |
symbology = the Altar |
RA = 17.39 |
dec= −53.58 |
areatotal = 237 |
arearank = 63rd |
numbermainstars = 7 |
numberbfstars = 17 |
numberstarsplanets = 3 |
numberbrightstars = 2 |
numbernearbystars = 4 |
brighteststarname = [[Beta Arae|β Ara]] |
starmagnitude = 2.9 |
neareststarname = [[41 Arae|41 Ara]] |
stardistance = 28.7 |
numbermessierobjects = 0 |
meteorshowers = None |
bordering = [[Corona Australis]]<br />[[Scorpius]]<br />[[Norma (constellation)|Norma]]<br />[[Triangulum Australe]]<br />[[Apus]]<br />[[Pavo (constellation)|Pavo]]<br />[[Telescopium]] |
latmax = 25 |
latmin = 90 |
month = July |
notes=}}
'''Ara''' ({{pronEng|ˈɑːrə}}, {{lang-la|[[altar]]}}) is a southern [[constellation]] situated between the constellations [[Scorpius]] and [[Triangulum Australe]].

==Notable features==
Ara's brightest star, [[Beta Arae|β Arae]], has an [[apparent magnitude]] of 2.9. [[Gamma Arae|γ Arae]] is a [[double star]] just south of β. [[Mu Arae|μ Arae]] is believed to have at least four planets orbiting it, one of which may be rocky in nature.

==Notable deep sky objects==
The northwest corner of Ara is crossed by the [[Milky Way]] and contains several [[open cluster]]s and [[diffuse nebula]]e. The brightest of the [[globular cluster]]s, [[NGC 6397]], is 8,200 [[light-year]]s from our [[solar system]] and may be the closest cluster of that kind.

==History==
This constellation was one of [[Ptolemy]]'s original 48 constellations.

==Mythology==
The altar, usually depicted upside down, but sometimes upright with the smoke drifting into the Milky Way, was identified as that of the [[centaur]] [[Chiron]]; its original Latin name was Ara Centauri. It was also occasionally called the altar of [[Dionysus]].

==References==
* Ian Ridpath and Wil Tirion (2007). ''Stars and Planets Guide'', Collins, London. ISBN 978-0007251209. Princeton University Press, Princeton. ISBN 978-0691135564.
==External links==
{{Commons|Ara}}
* [http://www.allthesky.com/constellations/norma/ The Deep Photographic Guide to the Constellations: Ara]
* [http://www.nightskyinfo.com/constellations/ara/ NightSkyInfo.com: Constellation Ara]
* [http://www.wikisky.org/?ra=17.376392410628202&de=-56.62050634239181&zoom=3&locale=EN&show_grid=1&show_constellation_lines=1&show_constellation_boundaries=1&show_const_names=0&show_galaxies=1''WIKISKY.ORG'': Ara]
* [http://www.ianridpath.com/startales/ara.htm Star Tales – Ara]


{{navconstel}}

[[Category:Ara constellation| ]]
[[Category:Constellations]]

[[bn:বেদী মণ্ডল]]
[[be:Сузор'е Ахвярнік]]
[[bg:Жертвеник (съзвездие)]]
[[ca:Altar (constel·lació)]]
[[cs:Oltář (souhvězdí)]]
[[co:Ara]]
[[da:Alteret]]
[[de:Altar (Sternbild)]]
[[el:Βωμός (αστερισμός)]]
[[es:Ara (constelación)]]
[[eo:Altaro (konstelacio)]]
[[fr:Autel (constellation)]]
[[ga:An Altóir]]
[[ko:제단자리]]
[[hr:Oltar (zviježđe)]]
[[id:Ara]]
[[it:Altare (costellazione)]]
[[la:Ara (sidus)]]
[[lb:Ara (Stärebild)]]
[[lt:Aukuras (astronomija)]]
[[hu:Oltár csillagkép]]
[[nl:Altaar (sterrenbeeld)]]
[[ja:さいだん座]]
[[no:Alteret]]
[[nn:Alteret]]
[[pl:Ołtarz (gwiazdozbiór)]]
[[pt:Ara]]
[[ro:Altarul (constelaţie)]]
[[ru:Жертвенник (созвездие)]]
[[sk:Súhvezdie Oltár]]
[[fi:Alttari (tähdistö)]]
[[sv:Altaret]]
[[th:กลุ่มดาวแท่นบูชา]]
[[vi:Thiên Đàn (chòm sao)]]
[[tr:Ara (takımyıldız)]]
[[uk:Жертовник (сузір'я)]]
[[zh:天坛座]]